cmh_sprint

I wish I was so lucky, I was the first of her victims last year

The slap heard round OR!

My cabin:

1) Casper

2) MaxPower

3) Gump

4) MarlboroMan

5) CbrGirl (still a maybe)

So this has gotten so long I've lost track of who is in. So I guess I'll start compiling that list:

1) Casper

2) Bad324

3) Likwid

4) Isaacs Papa

5) MyKill

6) MaxPower

7) Gump

8) 2TallTim

9) ...these are the only people i know off hand without going back through the thread. So add from there

My cabin

- cmh_sprint

- jstumpalump150

- mykill

and the aformentioned 2talltim

I remember the first time I saw Woodstock - the movie, somewhere around 11 or 12 y/o. When Joe came on all I could think was how they hell can that guy perform while having a seizure. Several years later the naivety of my youth disappeared in a haze of bong smoke.

Desperate moves by a desperate industry. The major labels are destined to collapse as some point. The are such bureaucratic bloated entities that cannot react to change that they will eventually go the way of the dinosaur.

here's a couple of articles that have been posted in the past few day about the S.S. Badger on boatnerd.com

1/21 - Ludington, Mich. – The S.S. Badger ferry is entering uncharted waters, and there are storm clouds on the horizon. Without federal action in its favor, the company that owns the 410-foot vessel may be forced to shut down cross-lake operations between Ludington and Manitowoc, Wis., beginning with the 2013 season.

Two proposals with the federal government a petition with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency seeking a special permit and a U.S. House amendment added to a U.S. Coast Guard bill basically hold the key for the Lake Michigan Carferry's quest to operate the coal-fired vessel beyond the upcoming season.

No deadline exists for action on the company's petition to the EPA or congressional approval of a final version of the Coast Guard appropriations bill, with or without the Badger clause.

The Badger, believed to be the last coal-fired passenger vessel operating regularly in the United States, is currently authorized to discharge coal ash into the lake under a section of its vessel general permit. That authorization expires Dec. 19.

Supporters of the Badger's continued operations point to its economic impact on its port communities and the company's studies that show limited, if any, impact by its coal ash on the lake. Opponents of the Badger's coal-ash dumping claim the Clean Water Act requires it to stop the practice, others have to follow the law and the company has had enough time to find an alternative to its coal-fired system.

The upcoming season, set to begin in May, would likely be the last for the Badger if the EPA does not grant a permit allowing for the continued dumping of coal ash into Lake Michigan or the final Coast Guard bill does not guarantee historical status to circumvent the more recent environmental standards.

Lake Michigan Carferry is seeking to renew the authorization from the EPA that it currently operates under, allowing for the coal-ash discharge to continue. It sent a petition for a National Permit Discharge Elimination System permit to the EPA, dated Nov. 2.

Lynda Matson, Lake Michigan Carferry's vice president of customer service and marketing, said company officials are confused and frustrated by the uncertain time frame concerning rulings by the EPA and action by the U.S. Senate. The U.S. House has already passed the Coast Guard budget bill that includes the waiver for the Badger.

“The concern is not being able to tell our employees how we're going to be operating in the future,” Matson said. “We provide 200 jobs, and they want to know. Not being able to give them a firm time line is difficult.”

Phillippa Canon, an EPA spokeswoman, said the agency is still reviewing the petition and is moving forward as quickly as possible.

Muskegon Chronicle

1/24 - Ludington, Mich. - The legislation involving the S.S. Badger could develop into a political showdown at the Congressional level.

A high-ranking Democrat in the U.S. Senate has voiced his opposition to allowing the Lake Michigan ferry to continue to dump its coal ash overboard, while three congressmen from the affected states have worked to advance a special clause that would allow the practice.

Without the U.S. House-approved amendment to the proposed Coast Guard budget bill, the Badger may be forced to shut down cross-lake operations after its upcoming season of cross-lake ferry service. The Badger's owner also is seeking a permit from the Environmental Protection Agency to continue operating.

The Badger, believed to be the last coal-fired passenger vessel operating regularly in the United States, is currently authorized to discharge coal ash into the lake under a section of the Vessel General Permit. That authorization expires on Dec. 19.

The U.S. House of Representatives approved the amendment co-sponsored by U.S. Reps. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland; Dan Benishek, R-Crystal Falls; and Tom Petri, R-Manitowoc, Wis. for its version of the Coast Guard bill in November that would allow the Badger to continue operating as is for the life of the vessel based on its historic significance. A different version of the Coast Guard bill, which does not include the Badger amendment, has yet to be approved by the U.S. Senate.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, the assistant majority leader, has come out in strong opposition in what he views as the Badger's attempt to circumvent EPA standards. After meeting with EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson in November, Durbin called on federal officials to block the bid for National Historic Landmark Status for the Badger because of its implication in the House amendment.

“This is more than a car ferry with a venerable tradition,” Durbin said in a news release. “This is a vessel that generates and dumps four tons of coal ash laced with mercury and arsenic into Lake Michigan every day. Lake Michigan cannot take any more toxic dumping, no matter how historic or quaint the source may be.”

Lynda Matson, Lake Michigan Carferry's vice president of customer service and marketing, said the company applauds the three Congressmen for their efforts and calls on the U.S. Senators from Michigan and Wisconsin to follow that lead.

“Huizenga, Benishek and Petri are true champions of our area,” Matson said, referencing the economic benefits and jobs generated by the Badger in Ludington and Manitowoc. “When the time comes, we are hopeful that our senators will also support the S.S. Badger given the huge impact we have on Michigan and Wisconsin.”

In supporting amendment, Huizenga said it is an example of getting rid of federal government regulations that threaten small business.

Without the certainty provided by this amendment, the Badger could very easily be forced off the Great Lakes at the end of 2012, Huizenga said on the House floor in November. With an annual economic impact of roughly $35 million for our two small port cities both in Wisconsin and in Michigan, keeping the Badger operational is absolutely vital to our communities.

Muskegon Chronicle

Welcome to OR!

I can't wait to see this unfold before my eyes.

Congrats!

so basically, no difference for those of us with Iphones or those with ATT?

Congrats on the sale Drew!

RIP Joe Pa

I'm "in" (on the cabin)and your "in" (on my trailer) PM's sent to you and cmh_sprint

I love it when a plan comes together!

We recieved a nasty-gram from our son's 1st grade teacher bitching at us because he did more work than he was supposed to and messed up her plan for working with him that day. All i could do was shake my head in disbelief. We wrote a note back stating we will never stop our son crom doing more work than he is required to do. Should be an interesting conference next month.

That would be up to CMHSprint.

We are rolling in his diesel Excursion and pulling my 7x12 trailer. We fit 4 bikes on it last year and might have had enough room for 1 more 600. Bikewise, it sounds like its just the 4 of us (CMHSprint, Marlboro Man, Gump and me) unless Carie wants to take her RR cuz I think Ben is riding down. Carie is riding down with us if she is going.

I can pull what ever we need to. I've pulled a 4 place enclosed snowmobile trailer through Ontario.

I just booked a cabin and they have 3 left.

FYI, if you have to cancel your reservation and it is 30 days or before the 7th you will get all but $50 back. If you cancel within 30 days of the 7th, you will lose your entire deposit.

Don't cry, Disney owns the rights to that emotion.

Sharp-shinned Hawk or a Cooper's Hawk???

http://www.squidoo.com/coopershawk

It figures as soon as I post this, I found a website that I hadn't seen before. Low and behold I found my answer. I have 2 juvenile Northern Harrier's. Awesome birds.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/PHOTO/LARGE/FSC_042704_00105D_L.jpg

....

Welcome to OR!

Voted and in for $10

damn that blows! Is this going to be the last one? I kinda want to go

The Indy contract was extended through '14. BTW, I did book a room but only for Saturday night if anyone is interested.

FYI, if you are planning on attending the 2012 race weekend and want to stay downtown bring lots of cash and book now. Gen Con (gaming convention) is is town the same weekend and expecting 25,000+ attendee's. Most hotels are already booked with the remaining hotels having rates above $250/night.

Anyone have room in a cabin?

Yep, meant the Badger. Both would be a great trip.

Yes it is worth it. I've seen it at my Mom's, she lives outside of Sault Ste. Marie. When i saw them it wasn't the waves that you usually see videos of. The sky just changed colors from a bright white to yellow to red. As far as the ferries go, i have no been on them but both have excellent reputations for a first class trip. If I was going to do it, i would take the S.S. Spartan. I like the nostalgia of it being one of the last coal fired steamers on the Great Lakes. She is most likely to be re-powered after the 2012 season due to the Gov't enforcement of the clean air act. The owners are trying to get an exemption based on her being a historical ship. Copper Harbour would be a great place to watch from.