earth2mike's Blog

This photo was contributed by a member of Roderick Butler's family. Roderick is remembered by that bright smile and his loving personality.

We love and miss you Rod.

Roderick Butler, the young man murdered Tuesday was a friend of my family. The night before he was killed, he sat in my mother’s living room and talked with me about his plans to attend college and better his future.  The last words I ever spoke to him were “Roderick I respect you because you want something out of life.” That life was taken away from Roderick senselessly and far too soon. He was only seventeen.

I met Roderick through my younger sister who is a dear friend of his and who is devastated by his death.  She was at the hospital when he died yesterday afternoon. Even as I write this passage, the tears have not stopped flowing from her face. I cannot stop thinking why my dear young sister had to watch someone she loved die in her presence. As a protective big brother I am hurt an angry that she was exposed to such a mentally and spiritually draining event.

The respect Roderick earned from me extended far beyond his plans to attend college. He had a smile that was as bright as sunshine. His presence alone was enough for people to feel the warmth from his soul. Roderick had a soft and pleasant demeanor that I was attracted to instantly. He was always respectful in the prescence of adults and would often sit on the porch and talk with my mother for hours at a time. It was natural to enjoy his company.  After my first conversation with Roderick, I turned to my sister and said, “that’s the type of young man I would like to see you with.” It was the first and only time I approved of a young man for my sister.

An entire neighborhood mourns Roderick’s death.  There is no basketball being played in the streets. The teenagers are not standing on the curb laughing and playing. The radio is not playing in my sister’s room, a normal hangout spot for the kids on the block. An eerie quietness lingers from one corner to the next and gives the impression of a ghost town. Even people who only knew of Roderick by him walking by and giving a friendly wave sit quietly on their porches in disbelief. All unable to understand how someone so young, so innocent, and so loveable is gone forever.

                                                R.I.P Roderick Butler

No longer will I sit idle and watch as my city dies of violence.  Roderick’s death and the many other senseless murders have lit a fire in me that will blaze. Today I vow to fight back and ask that everyone who care stand and fight with me!

Yesterday two more young people were victims of gun violence.  A 25-year-old male and 19 year old female were gunned down outside a club. The man is in critical condition. The woman died from her injuries.  Ironically, the two were at a back to school party. The event unfolded when some kids began to argue and fight. Owners of the club kicked the patrons out.  A group of men went to their cars and retrieved guns spraying the crowd with 25 bullets from three guns.

It does not surprise me anymore when I hear or read that there was a shooting in this city. Lately I’m not surprised to hear things like “the men sprayed the crowd with 25 bullets from three guns”. I should be devastated to hear of such tragic events but tragedy is the norm nowadays.

 The other day I was telling a friend from another city that Detroiters could kill with the best of them. By them, I am referring to terrorists and extremists. Even terrorist groups like the Taliban have a purpose. Killing someone for stepping on your shoes is cowardly, but even worse; it’s all too common.

I would like to believe that these people don’t understand the consequences of their actions. I don’t know what I actually believe because the violence is so senseless and so common. 

Another truth is how hard it is to live in a city with such a bleak and dark outlook.

The city’s downtown district is cleaning up nicely and businesses are finally starting to return but until the crime rate decreases dramatically , this city will never progress.

Am I wrong for making such a bold comparison to terrorism? Is there an answer to the violence? Do you believe things will get better?

Sound off Detroit!

In a study of three-year-old vehicles, Buick ties with Lexus as the most dependable brand.

The dependability of non-luxury brand vehicles has caught up to the luxury-brand vehicles, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS). For the first time in 12 years, Lexus is no longer alone as the most dependable brand—for 2007 it shares that honor with Buick.

The Vehicle Dependability Study measures problem symptoms experienced by original owners of three-year-old vehicles (2004 models). The vehicles are scored based on the number of problems per 100 vehicles (PP100).

“With three non-premium nameplates—Buick, Honda and Mercury—ranking within the top five, and particularly with Buick tying with Lexus for the top rank, consumers seeking a vehicle with strong dependability have good choices at various price levels," said Neal Oddes, director of product research and analysis for J.D. Power and Associates. "Consumers don't necessarily need to pay premium prices to obtain high quality and dependability."

Top Ten Nameplates

• Buick 145 PP100 (tie)
• Lexus 145 PP100 (tie)
• Cadillac 162 PP100
• Mercury 168 PP100
• Honda 169 PP100
• Toyota 178 PP100
• BMW 182 PP100 (tie)
• Lincoln 182 PP100 (tie)
• Subaru 192 PP100
• Oldsmobile 196 PP100

(Article courtesy of MSN)

It surprised me that America owns three of the top five spots.

When most people are asked why they buy foreign automobiles the most common response is they are more reliable. With the Big 3 gaining ground on their Asian competitiors does that change your opinion of American cars? Will you consider buying American? Do you agree with the survey?

Sound off Detroit!

I received my high school education at Cass Technical High School.  Cass is a college prep school, which offers curriculums in programs such as chemical biological, electrical engineers, and the arts. You must take a placement test to attend Cass.

My major was chemical biological. It was mandatory that I receive a satisfactory grade in classes such as honors chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, quantitative analysis, and physics to name a few. The classes were very demanding and I struggled to learn. It was fair for teachers to expect me to learn quickly and move through the lessons at a fast pace. I chose to challenge myself when I took that test to get in.

In most of the classes the teachers would read from there books and write on their boards and I would struggle to stay awake. It did not take me long to realize that teachers learned to teach one way and being innovative took innovation from teachers. That innovation was rare.

There was one teacher who had that spark. Mr. Delorey was a no nonsense geometry teacher but he had a method that made it fun and interesting to learn. I think the key to his success was his hands on approach. Students were encouraged to work a problem out on the board if they got it wrong. Often times there would be up to ten or eleven students at that board at one time. The class did not move on until everyone understood the lesson.

Mr. Delorey was the only teacher I can recall that made learning fun and easy. I understand why so many students struggle to learn.  In fact, while I set in those classrooms trying to stay awake I often imagined how hard it must be for students that did not have the gift I did. I would imagine a whole class of students with there heads on their desks sleeping or even worse on the corner across the street from the school because they just were not interested in learning.

It is time to change the way instructors teach. Learning must become more hands on and less robotic. The high drop out rates in large cities is proof enough that change is necessary or America will fail as a Country.

What must be done to curve the high drop out rate? Should the failing school systems be blamed on teachers? What should be done to make learning more hands on?  Do you share my opinion of teachers methods being boring? Do you recall a teacher who had “the gift?”

Sound off Detroit.

Democratic presidential candidates were in Detroit this past week speaking to the NACCP.  Republican candidates were probably on a plane flying as far away as they could.

90% of Blacks voted democratic during the last election. Would it have been a waste of time for Republican candidates to speak at the NACCP convention?

Third base is known as the hot corner. The player that occupies the position is expected to supply power and runs. More line drives are hit toward third base than anywhere on the field, which is why you must be quick and athletic to play the position. There is no doubt the third baseman is one of the most important players in baseball.

There was an interesting conversation on the radio today. “Is Brandon Inge underappreciated”?  If many fans had there way Brandon would have been shipped out of town a long time ago.  After all through July 14, 2007 Brandon is batting .249 with 11 homeruns and 49RBI. He is clearly not lighting up the ball.  In the seven seasons Brandon Inge has played for the Tigers he has hit over .275 one time, in 2004. Brandon finished that season with a batting average of .287.  Inges’ career batting average is a measly .249, an eyesore when you look at his stats, although he can hit for power.

DAVE DOMBROWSKI SHOULD SHIP HIM OUT OF TOWN TOMMOROW! “Not so fast my friend.”

Third base is a critical defensive position, and when you talk about defense there is no one better then Mr. Inge, NO ONE!  Brandon was inserted at third base in 2004. Three years later he has accumulated a highlight reel that will drop the tightest jaws.  Diving catches, making bearhanded plays, twisting and turning, throwing off one leg are plays that Inge does with ease. He makes them look so easy that I am nervous for any youngster who tries to imitate him.  With a career fielding percentage of .976 and only 10 errors this year you can argue that he is the best defensive third baseman in the game. I cannot leave out that you can put Brandon anywhere on the field and he will perform as if he has been there his entire career. Last year Brandon Inge was awarded with a multi year contract, which ensures he will be patrolling that hot corner for years to come no matter the average.

Some people will look at Brandon Inges’ average and say, “ship him out”.  True baseball fans will look at the total package and appreciate the fact that Brandon plays for the Detroit Tigers. Either way it does not matter. His effort and excellence on the baseball field displays comfort and commitment. Brandon Inge is here to stay.

Sound off Detroit. 

Michigan’s childcare program provides assistance to low income families who cannot afford adequate day care while they work or attend school. Childcare is very expensive costing Michigan residents hundreds of dollars per week depending on the number of children in a family. Listed below is the contributions made by state and federal authorities.

CCDF: $143.3M

 Federal TANF Transfer to CCDF: $0

Direct Federal TANF Spending on Child Care: $171.11M

State CCDF Maintenance of Effort Funds: $24.4M

State Matching Funds: $39.5M Total Funds Available: $378.31M

 As you can see, the program is very expensive.  The childcare program is also very flawed.  It is easy for a person to fraud the state by providing false information. The state simply does not have the resources to investigate the service provider or the person in need of assistance.  Daycare centers, family members, and friends all qualify for money under Michigan’s Childcare fund.  

The only realistic way for the state to uncover fraud is if a third party reports it. The most common form of fraud is when a recipient falsely identifies a provider. The following scenario shows how easy it is to fraud the state and the taxpayers, which leads to unnecessary taxes for everyone who works and lives honestly:

Juanita has her husband watch the children while she works but identifies her mother as the childcare provider. Juanita gives her mother a percentage of the check and keeps a percentage. As you can see, Juanita’s mother receives money for doing nothing and Juanita receives money for committing a crime.  It is also easy to see that unless a third party reports the fraud, Juanita may make more money cheating the government then she does working.

 It should infuriate anyone who reads this article how easy it is for a person to fraud the state.  Michigan’s Work First program requires welfare recipients to work in order to receive benefits. The state in some cases is willing to pay childcare for a recipient who makes minimum wage and works part-time. In such cases, the amount paid for childcare is more than a recipient receives in work earnings.

Many people will say this makes sense because they would rather the money go to someone who is working (childcare provider) rather than give it to someone who sits at home all day (welfare recipient). I agree 100%. I cannot however accept the fact that the state is willing to do it in such a stupid way. Lansing must quickly overhaul or eliminate the Childcare service. 

There is tons of information available at www.michigan.gov/childcare

Sound off Detroit!

    what an                                                     
     

                                                    
      amazing world

             this is!                                                   
            

The NAACP is in town to hold it National Convention from July 7-12.  For only $90 adults can attend the convention.  Youth registration is $40.  They've brought the heavy hiters out. Guests include President Bill Clinton, Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Michael Chertoff, and Representative Kilpatrick to name a few.

“Simply phenomenal” is how NAACP National Board of Directors Vice Chair and Convention Planning Committee Chair Roslyn M. Brock describes the event. “The NAACP annual convention always gathers the most dedicated and influential community activists in the nation who represent ‘Power Beyond Measure,’” Brock said.

 A funeral for the N-word will be held 9:30 a.m. July 9 at Hart Plaza. Bishop Cousin keynotes the Religious Leaders Luncheon July 9 at 12:30 p.m.

But when the conventions over they'll fly to the airport as quick as they flew in. What plans do the NAACP have to help curb the epidemic of murders in the city of Detroit? Before I answer I'll let them respond....................stay tuned!

The last two elections have proven that this is a red white and blue country.  In 2000, Al Gore won the popular vote but lost the election to President Bush. Political analysts predict that the next election will have the same implications. The road to the White House will go through swing states like Florida and Ohio. It would be fair to say that the country is split in half.

There is some irony to this statistic. Most Americans fill the same on some critical issues. People want universal healthcare, alternative energy sources, better education, and safer streets. In a recent poll 90% of participants agree that America is in need of better immigration laws.

I have been able to vote for over 10 years and those same issues were at the top of most peoples want list. Congress has not been able to pass a major bill in over 30 years. Is the government deadlocked?  Has our form of government stopped working for the people? Why can’t Congress pass an immigration bill? Is it time to drastically change the way our government work?

Sound off Detroit.

This summer marks the 40th Anniversary of the Detroit Riots of 1967.  Although I was not born at the time of this social explosion, I am curious to learn what caused the riot, what effect it had on people, how it changed the image of the city, and the lasting consequences of such a devastating event. 

 I became interested in the riots when I watched the documentary “A City on Fire”, which aired on HBO.  The documentary examined how the 1968 Detroit Tigers helped to ease the tensions between Whites and Blacks after angry rioters destroyed over 27 square blocks of buildings, homes, and lives.  I found it indescribable that the only means of ending the chaos was the mobilization of the 82nd airborne division.

At the conclusion of the riots, 43 people were dead, over 1000 injured, and over 7000 people were arrested.

Were you around during the riots?  Share your story or comment.   

Daimler Benz has finally sold the Chrysler Group to Cerberus Capital Management for 7.4 billion. Cerberus is a private equity firm with a diverse portfolio.  Cerberus Capital Management owns a major or minor interest in Alamo, Fila, Air Canada, Mervyns, and National Bank. These companies currently generate 60 billion in revenue. Cerberus has no experience in operating a car maker.  The company has promised to leave Chrysler management in tact.

The sale of Chrysler brings to light false promises made by Daimler Benz since they purchased Chrysler nine years ago.  It may be true that Chrysler would not have survived if not for Daimler Benz, but Daimler made a commitment to restore profitability and prestige to the struggling American automaker, only to dump the company into the lap of an equity management firm.

With little or no growth in the U.S. market be prepared for more concessions from the UAW.  The Union will be asked to make even more sacrifices then those made in the last two labor agreements. 

I didn’t mention the big problem of who pays for workers pensions. There is simply no answer at this time, another huge concern for Chrysler employees.

The sale of Chrysler to Cerberus Capital Management emphasizes the need for Americans to support American companies.  Sure Daimler Benz has a commitment to its shareholders, but  promises of streamlining manufacturing, sharing intellectual properties, and restoring Chrysler to profitability may have been out of Daimler Benz league. It seems to me that it was just some foreign company playing a dangerous game of chess with American lives. In the end, we loose.

Not firing Matt Millen before the draft proved a huge mistake.  Today Millen displayed the usual stupidity that fans have grown accustomed to by taking a mediocre quarterback in the second round.  The second round should be a round where you draft players who will fill spots on your roster. Millen insisted on drafting players to fill the practice squad.

With the 11th pick in the second round, the Lions drafted Drew Stanton, quarterback from Michigan State.  I was very shocked when I heard Stanton’s name.  Not only was he a looser at Michigan State, there is no way Stanton can come in and make an immediate impact.  There were several players on the board who could have started right away including DE Lamar Woodley of Michigan and CB Eric Wright of UNLV.  Both players could fill immediate needs.  To make matters worse the Lions traded the second pick of the second round to get Stanton. Absolutely insane.

Trading the second pick gave the Lions 2 more picks in the second round, so what did they do?  Matt Millen and the Lions screwed those picks up too.  It is unbelievable but with the 26th pick of the second round the Lions drafted   Ikaika Alma-Francis, DE Hawaii. So who is Ikaika Alma-Francis? Do not ask me.  What I can say is that four years ago the man was not playing football.  Francis was not even projected to go in the fourth round. A total joke of a pick.

I don’t know why, but with the second pick in the draft, the Lions drafted WR Calvin Johnson from Georgia Tech. Maybe Matt Millen and his staff did there best Mike Ditka impression and went home.  After taking the best player in the draft, the boys from Allen Park realized they were doing to good a job. With the first pick of the 2008 draft, the Detroit Lions select….Stay tuned.