“We don’t know all the answers. If we knew all the answers we’d be bored, wouldn’t we? We keep looking, searching, trying to get more knowledge” — pioneering TV workout guru Jack LaLanne. * This list has a bunch of conventional-myth-challenging stuff, but let’s focus on No. 5 — police car chases aren’t great at keeping […]
Derek Melot
Derek Melot is a former assistant editorial page editor, columnist and reporter at the Lansing State Journal, where he covered state and local issues extensively, earning awards from the Associated Press and Michigan Press Association. The Oklahoma native moved to Michigan in 1999, and served as Bridge editor through mid-2013.
Posted inLand O Links
Land O Links
“A man of knowledge lives by acting, not by thinking about acting” — Carlos Castaneda, anthropologist and author. * The mayor of Royal Oak says that if voters don’t improve a public safety property tax millage next week, city services are toast. Royal Oak has cut its police force by 40 percent in the last […]
Posted inLand O Links
Land O Links
“I find that a great part of the information I have, was acquired by looking up something and finding something else on the way” — Franklin P. Adams, early 20th century American writer. * Illinois’ governor may call a special session of the Legislature to deal with public pension programs. Bridge’s coverage on Michigan’s pension […]
Posted inLand O Links
Land O Links
“Any fool can know. The point is to understand” — Albert Einstein. * Power failures are increasingly common in the United States, a consequence of our culture’s inability to actually address an infrastructure problem. We do want the lights to come on, don’t we?: http://www.psmag.com/environment/electric-forecast-call-for-increasing-blackouts-43395/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+miller-mccune%2Fsummary_feed+%28Pacific+Standard+-+Summary+Feed%29 * Here’s a conundrum: As energy efficiency grows, demand for […]
Posted inTalent & Education
Education talk slated for Grand Rapids on July 25
Gov. Rick Snyder has detailed a veteran Lansing lawyer and political adviser to lead a reconsideration of how the state funds public schools, it was announced Tuesday. Panel leader Richard McLellan says public hearings in coming months will gather comment from citizens on flaws and potential improvements in school finance. No need to wait for […]
Posted inLand O Links
Land O Links
“You can’t know too much, but you can say too much” — Calvin Coolidge, president of the United States, 1923-1929. * The operator of a charter school for Muskegon Heights promises a public meeting a bunch of big changes. Among them: “school days will be longer – 7 ½ hours”; the school year “will include […]
Posted inLand O Links
Land O Links
“Knowledge is the best eraser in the world for disharmony, distrust, despair, and the endless physical deficiencies of man” — Orlando A. Battista, 20th century Canadian chemist and writer. * Inequality is growing among a sector of Americans who don’t even work: our children. David Brooks writes in the New York Times that “Equal opportunity, […]
Posted inSuccess
Are you Bridge's next intern?
Each year, the Center for Michigan selects an outstanding minority student for a paid internship with the Center’s Bridge Magazine. The Center seeks advanced undergraduate and graduate students who need intensive reporting experiences and clips to make the transition to professional journalism. The fellowship is for $8,000. The fellow is expected to work 20 hours […]
Posted inLand O Links
Land O Links
“Education in the light of present-day knowledge and need calls for some spirited and creative innovations both in the substance and the purpose of current pedagogy” — Anne Sullivan Macy, tutor of Helen Keller. * Stockton, Calif., just became the largest U.S. city to ever file for bankruptcy. The invaluable Atlantic Cities site rounds up […]
Posted inLand O Links
Land O Links
“Knowledge is the small part of ignorance that we arrange and classify” — Ambrose Bierce, 19th century American writer. * Owners of charter boats and ferries all around the Great Lakes are either having to curtail their passenger loads or upgrade their fleets to comply with a new federal standard on weight. “The rule went […]