The buzz today is that the new owners of the Silverdome have scheduled a cannabis convention there for Oct.29-31 The story -- http://bit.ly/9ClctX -- is drawing some interesting comments.

Number one is the irony that Pontiac is dragging its feet about allowing medical marijuana dispensaries in the city -- while there are plenty of illegal dispensaries going full blast.

The Pontiac chief says the reduced staffing of police will not permit adequate supervision of the dome event.

Let's see if we have this straight. The city is out of money, and they have to lay of cops. Therefore the police cannot go after the bad people who are selling pot and not paying any taxes in doing so.

Medical marijuana dispensaries would be legal and would pay taxes, which would possibly lead to hiring more police who could go after illegal drug sellers.

Come on, wake up and smell the smoke in the air.

Medical marijuana was first legalized in California. Other states, including Michigan, soon followed.

Now California voters will decide on legalizing -- and heavily taxing -- marijuana. This is a state that is so broke they were offering the governor's signature on cars to help raise money. So, which way do you think that will that vote go?

And how quickly will other states join the race for new tax revenue.

Look at how much money Michigan rakes in taxing tobacco. How much more could we get by taxing pot?

Anybody have any better ideas for bailing us out of this hole we are in?

Whirlpool announces big profits from the federal appliance rebate program. http://bit.ly/96J2PO But how many people who applied for the rebates got them?

That is the difference between cash for clunkers and this program.

People liked cash for clunkers, because when the went shopping they were sure about the rebate before they bought the car.

The appliance rebate, on the other hand, required that customers make the purchase and then see if they got the rebate.

As one of those who bought an appliance, applied for the rebate and then was informed that the money was gone, I can tell you what my response is:

If this were a business, I would call it bait and switch and I would report the abuse to the government.

But this is the government doing the bait and switch, so my only recourse is to vote against those in office.

Some readers called in to complain about The Oakland Press publishing a report on an Oxford nudist camp issuing an invitation for people to join their attempt at the world skinny dipping record.

Well, the reason this is news is that it gets people talking and it is happening here in Oakland County.

And talk about a difference of opinion — there are the nudists and there are the prudists.

I must confess I am one of the latter, at least as far as my own behavior. As for what others do, I having traveled to Europe, South America and Asia, and I find there is little can wear or not wear that can offend me. I should also note that fashion here tends to flirt with nudity.

Whatever your views on the topic of sans clothing, you are invited to share the debate at http://bit.ly/bNipKZ.

Here are some samples:






Rochester Guy wrote on Jul 9, 2010 7:02 AM:
" Are there any big fish in the water that my mistake my manhood for dinner? "


Jeremy wrote on Jul 9, 2010 7:15 AM:
" This just awful. Why would The Oakland Press even mention this. Oxford residents do want these people here. "


Tac Agent wrote on Jul 9, 2010 7:49 AM:
" I have seen some nude beaches before in my travels and most of the people on them are FAT.

GROSS!! "


just me wrote on Jul 9, 2010 8:14 AM:
" Let me get this straight, this is not just for adults? This is just plain disturbing. They want you to bring your families? I can't for the life of me understand why children would be allowed there. Or why anyone in their right mind would want to be around children there. "


thoughtful blogger wrote on Jul 9, 2010 8:14 AM:
" to jeremy,

These people? This is a private club. Your intolerence speaks volumes. You are no better than the Taliban who force women to cover everything except their eyes. What business is it of yours if like minded people come together to sun bathe. "


thoughtful blogger wrote on Jul 9, 2010 8:20 AM:
" to just me,

Disturbing? Nudity does not equate sex!!! Unfortunately our puritanical mind set cannot separate the two. Many cultures do and the ability to do that would create a more enlightened society. "



plucher wrote on Jul 9, 2010 8:23 AM:
" This is a public event which raises a large issue of whether or not this is a private club. The IRS would say that it is not private due to the fact that they just invited anyone to come.
I guess I will pack up the kids and head on down there anyway. "


craven wrote on Jul 9, 2010 8:57 AM:
" sorry, but this brings up the question..."how do you spot a blind man at a nudist colony?" "


av8rkirk wrote on Jul 9, 2010 9:21 AM:
" Rochester Guy, don't worry about big fish as they have poor eyesight and could not spot anything that tiny. "


749 wrote on Jul 9, 2010 10:25 AM:
" There are many prudes in this county.
If families choose to run around butt nekked in front of their kids that is there business.
I have visited a few times a nudist resort "Turtle Lake" and the members and guest were all very nice people, not sexual and no woodies.
"Nudestock" was great, weekend filled with wonderful people, great music/bands, but a bit chilly at night. "


Mark_Sunclad wrote on Jul 9, 2010 10:48 AM:
" It's unfortunate that there is so much misunderstanding, and body shame, but that is the USA. No fish in our pool, we have a nice pond with fish if you are inclined to fish. Yes, not only your children are safe, but all members are, as the Owners remove undesirable people. People who attend this event will be screened, and not allowed at the owners discretion. This is a sanctioned national event by aanr.com .
WO is a stress free fun place to be, and I encourage all of you to visit, you'll love it. Enjoy! "


homeboy wrote on Jul 9, 2010 11:36 AM:
" To Jeremy; you wrote:" This just awful. Why would The Oakland Press even mention this. Oxford residents do want these people here. "

You are right!!! We do want them here. I've been a resident of Oxford for 40 years and I've known about this nudist camp. There has never been any problems there. Nudity is a personal choice and I defend it. "

More debate on who owns the roads: cars, bikes, both?

I especially liked the comment about bikers with bullets. The NRA should weigh in on this.

Story at http://bit.ly/9txemw

Ad your comments at the bottom.



hsc wrote on Jul 8, 2010 5:21 AM:
" This story quoted EJ Levy? He is the one whose comment last week was based on the premise of the cyclst being intelligent and the pickup driver being ignorant. Now he's putting himself out there claiming victimhood. My experience in biking about 170 miles a week is that when you show courtesy, you receive it. Mr. Levy either is unaware of this, or feels that being courteous isn't as dramatic (and potentilly profitable) as being a victim.
Drivers need to not bully cyclists, and cyclists need to obey the traffic laws of the roads they want to share. It's that simple. Unfortunately in my eyes, Mr. Levy has no credibility at all. Typically those who complain the loudest are those who think the rules are for others. "


Jeremy wrote on Jul 8, 2010 6:40 AM:
" I agree with hss. While driving I always try to be very considerate and cautious of any on bikes. But there have been some bikers who stay right in the middle of the road with headphones on and ignorant of anything or anyone around them. "


earthly wrote on Jul 8, 2010 8:42 AM:
" I say " okay, I can share the road with bicycles." But, if I am to share the road with them, then they too should be plated, have insurance, and pay a tax to ride their bike on the road just like every car and motorcycle. "


ccblogger wrote on Jul 8, 2010 8:49 AM:
" There are plenty of inconsiderate drivers out there. I bike almost exclusively on bike paths and encounter many drivers who think it is perfectly acceptable to block bike paths and crosswalks. Then there are the ones who race up to the intersections to make right turns when the traffic light is red; those people are the ones bicyclists have to be the most wary of. I am always careful when crossing streets on the bike path because many drivers are not watching out for pedestrians and bicyclists. "


dmbshat wrote on Jul 8, 2010 9:14 AM:
" Heck people do this to others in cars. You are not special Levy. I have always given cyclists extra room but don't take it as an entitlement. I always see cyclists doing 25-30mph in a 50mph zone or blow through stop signs and then give a dirty look because you pass them. You have to obey the same laws as cars. Pass all the laws you want, it comes down to how you want to risk your life, it is pure physics: 3500lbs car wins over 40lbs bike. "


bkluv wrote on Jul 8, 2010 10:23 AM:
" @earthly - I am so tired of that argument. Just because I ride a bike doesn't mean that I don't have a car. I have a car. I live in a home. I pay city, state and federal taxes. Out of all of my friends that bike, maybe a handful don't have cars, but the other 1,200 do. We all pay the same taxes that go to fix the roads.

I don't see why just becuase I'm on a bike its ok to run me over. If I was walking in the street you would move over. I don't know why when I'm on 2 wheels I'm automatically not a human anymore.

We need to share the road. "Can't we all just get along?" "


EJLMotiveForce@bikerider.com wrote on Jul 8, 2010 1:28 PM:
" Hello,
I would like to invite HSC and Jeremy to reread my statement posted earlier. Neither of you know me, have ever ridden with me, been on a list serve where I've posted articles outlining safety concerns for cyclists, met with me as I visited state representatives lobbying for improvements in road rules to enhance your safety while on the road, raced with me, or been on charity rides I've initiated and led outlined with specifics on how to ride safely, or been privy to conversations I've had with police officers, that I've initiated seeking their advice on how I can convey to the ride community what they think we can do to fit in with the community and other vehicular traffic. I don't think you have been on any of the (up to four) group rides I lead, including a new WomensRide I started last year designed to bring more novice cyclists into the community with new skill sets and an opportunity to learn the ins and outs of this sport.
I'm impressed that because I was in a situation where I filed a police report upon having a car nearly brush me on a four lane road (with no other traffic), which seems to me still as a responsible course of action, that you think I had a personal gain in mind when I did so. I had to go to court three times, taking valuable time off of work and since I was not hit, I had no personal damages, so to infer that I had a motive of financial gain is patently absurd. My concern was for YOU. To get a hazardous driver off the road so he wouldn't kill you or your best pal in some sort of pitiful attempt to teach you a lesson, that you should be riding on the sidewalk. I don't just complain. I feel it important to follow through. To contact the police if necessary. To write a letter outlining that what no doubt happened last week on Inkster was probably a typical experience (as confirmed by dozens or respondents to an inquiry regarding that incident I sent to three bike clubs) and to write a letter to the author of this article thanking her for illuminating a serious, even deadly situtation which is all too common.

I make no excuses to you or anyone else about my committment to the cylcling community here in SE Michigan. Nor regarding the pattern I set for safe riding. I do suppose that despite the fact that a driver purposely hit a rider with his car seems to not be very important to so many riders but you seem convinced that other riders are the problem. I suppose that infuriates me even more than the driver's reckless and wonton behavior.

And it is precisely the point that I am not special that I have some sort of innate protection against a two ton vehicle when riding my 20 pound bike. We are obligated to ride the roads adhering to the laws and to anticipate the errors many drivers make (often because they are themselves misinformed)and use our bikes in a reasonably safe fashion.

Contribute something. Ride safely and have a good and safe Summer.

EJ LEVY
By the way. How many of you sign your name to your letters? I'll be leading a ride from Outdoor Action Company in Sylvan Lake this evening at 6:30. Care to join me. Perhaps we will all learn something. "


jd wrote on Jul 8, 2010 2:30 PM:
" I always laugh when I hear about some Lance Armstrong wannabe getting hit because they are too stupid to realize the roads are for cars only. All these bikers getting hurt and killed are getting what they deserve! "


that wrote on Jul 8, 2010 2:38 PM:
" Imagine how different this debate would be if cyclists packed unconcealed heat. "