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COMMENTARY

Ramsey should look up issues he draws

I am writing in response to the editorial cartoon that appeared on the Opinion Page (SN 3/28). Although I'm impressed with Ramsey's artistic abilities, I am equally astonished with his inability to follow current events. As has been repeated time and time again by the Dick DeVos campaign, DeVos did not outsource jobs to China while he was Amway CEO and evidence that Ramsey might point to in order to support his drawing is completely bunk. As any responsible CEO would do, DeVos expanded the company into China while continuing to invest in Michigan to the tune of $700 million more! Those profits coming from China allowed Amway to create nearly 300 more jobs in Michigan! I might also add that investing in China is not by any means unique in today's global market economy. Companies such as Visteon, General Motors, Ford and Compuware that have poured thousands of dollars into Gov.

COMMENTARY

Pay per emergency

In the struggle to balance the city's budget, Lansing officials might tell neighboring communities to pay up when Lansing firefighters and police help them out in emergencies.

MICHIGAN

Apple makes switching from Windows easier

Gabrielle Russon
April 6, 2006

Apple computer users will now be able to use Windows, through a new piece of software introduced Wednesday. Apple Computer Inc. revealed the software, called Boot Camp, which will help Mac owners run Windows XP operating system. Boot Camp guides people on how to download Windows and lets them choose between Windows or Mac OS X when they start their computers. By Wednesday afternoon, Sean Leahy, a software support specialist at the MSU Computer Store, had already installed it.

MICHIGAN

Mich. regulates crops

Melanie Thomas
April 6, 2006

Michigan could become the 15th state to take away a local government's authority to decide the type of seeds grown on its farms. The bill, introduced in September 2005, removes a local government's ability to decide whether farmers can grow genetically modified or organic seeds.

NEWS

Slurs, fights among 22 MSU incidents

Josh Jarman
April 5, 2006

From the words "that's so gay" written on dry erase boards to physical confrontations in dining halls, the Department of Residence Life has recorded 22 incidents of bias and discrimination since August. Paul Goldblatt, the director of Residence Life, released a database of reported incidents to The State News late Monday and said his office takes every report of bias or discrimination seriously, even if those involved say the incident was a joke. "We write it down even if people say, 'We're just kidding, we say that all the time,'" Goldblatt said.

NEWS

WEB EXTRA: City council votes to continue providing police, fire aid to neighbors

Bob Darrow
April 5, 2006

East Lansing won't be charging its neighbors for police or fire aid anytime soon. The East Lansing City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a resolution stating the city's continued commitment to existing mutual aid agreements with Lansing and a number of surrounding townships. Councilmember Mark Meadows opened the issue up to discussion at Tuesday's meeting to hammer home the message. "It's a positive agreement for every community that signs these mutual aid agreements," Meadows said.

COMMENTARY

Daylight-saving time annoying, inconvenient leave clocks alone

When I took this job, which I had wanted for ages, I swore I would try to limit rants about silly things. I wanted to use my space here to talk about important things like affirmative action and voting. Besides one column where I vented about the things able-bodied people do that piss me off and one about stupid people at MSU, I think I've stuck to that goal. That was until my mother went around our house Saturday evening changing all of the clocks forward an hour, reminding me how much I hate daylight-saving time. Mind you, there are lots of things I hate, including homophobia, super politically correct people and opossums. Dirty little rodents. There are probably more things in this world that I dislike or that annoy me than things I do like.

NEWS

E.L. avoids cuts in proposed budget

Bob Darrow
April 5, 2006

East Lansing will avoid any major spending cuts in the upcoming year, and won't have to raise taxes or dip into the city's reserve funds, according to a preliminary budget prepared by city staff. The city's general fund budget for the 2006-2007 fiscal year, which is still subject to City Council approval, comes in at $34.6 million, up roughly 5 percent from last year. Property tax rates will remain the same as they have been for the last seven years, although the city's staff is recommending raising charges for sewer and water utilities. On Tuesday, the East Lansing City Council took the first step in what will be a monthlong process of finalizing the budget, setting a public hearing on the matter for April 18. East Lansing Mayor Sam Singh said being presented with a budget that doesn't presume any major cuts "starts us off on the right track," but he and his fellow council members still plan to pore over the numbers on a department-by-department basis. The council is scheduled to adopt a final plan by May 16.

COMMENTARY

Drivers on campus must respect bikers

Ah, spring. Warmer weather brings out all sorts of things — crocuses, spring songbirds and cyclists. After encounters this morning with some vocal, gesturing and generally annoyed drivers on campus, I'd like to encourage everyone to read MSU's bike-related ordinances, available on the Board of Trustees Web site. In short, contrary to what the kind person in the Honda screamed, bikes do not belong on the sidewalk.

COMMENTARY

Axe promises results, but doesn't deliver

The so-called "Axe effect" is not all that it is cracked up to be. The recent obituary-like advertisement on page 3B (SN 4/04) caught my attention and caused me to recollect how well Axe has worked for me. I am not what you would call an attractive person.