Compared to Easter 2020, Easter 2021 was outstanding. Instead of delivering Easter baskets by social distancing, Chris’ and Katy’s families came to our house to get their Easter baskets and participate in an old fashioned Easter egg hunt. Instead of having Easter dinner with just the two of us, the nine of us got together for a meal on our deck with all of the “fixens”. Games were played. Wagon rides and bike rides took place. Nolan played catch with Brad. I pushed the kids on the swings. All four grandkids got on the roof of the garage which resulted in Katy having to climb up there, while wearing a dress and flip flops, because Kaylen didn’t want to come down. There were plenty of laughs, smiles, and even some crying. It was a normal Easter Sunday at the Biggs’s house. We rose from the darkness into the light.
The conservative think tank, Mackinaw Center, analyzed the recommendations of Governor Whitmer’s “Upper Peninsula Energy Task Force Committee Recommendations Part I – Propane Supply.” in response to her proposed closing of the Line 5 pipeline on May 1, 2021. The findings of the Mackinaw Center are not favorable. Here are the five major takeaways. 1. Closures of Line 5, even if only temporary in nature, will leave the Upper Peninsula vulnerable to price spikes and supply shortages in heating fuels. 2. Laws designed to limit price increases during shortages are likely to prolong shortages. 3. Alternate home heating options will cause a two- to three-fold increase in heating costs. 4. Transitioning from propane to electric appliances, water heaters and furnaces could cost more than $25,000 per household. 5. Weatherization Assistance Program upgrades would be prohibitively expensive. Per the Mackinaw Center, the recommendations for more government intervention are aimed at reducing the negative impacts of decreased supply and increased prices for propane. But those negative impacts would not exist or would be greatly diminished if it were not for the effort on the part of the state government to close Line 5 and stop the construction of the Line 5 Straits of Mackinac Tunnel. In this case, government action is causing the very problem that they have created the U.P. Energy Task Force to solve. It would seem to me that the multiple parties involved could develop a win/win that protects the environment and allows for reasonable cost energy to be provided to our UP residents. For that to happen, there needs to be a little give and take.
The NCAA version of “March Madness” ends tonight with Baylor versus Gonzaga. Inspite of all the upsets that occurred in this years tournament, the two best teams throughout the year survived and are playing for the championship. If it wasn’t for Baylor suffering through a 16 day Covid-19 pause in the middlle of the season, we propably would have two undefeated teams playing today for the championship. It has been 44 years since there has been an undefeated champion.
Stay safe. Social Distance. Wear your mask properly. Wash your hands regularly. Schedule your vaccine.
Quote of the Day: “Competitiveness is about more than how U.S.-headquartered companies fare against other companies in global merger and acquisition bids. It is about making sure that governments have stable tax systems that raise sufficient revenue to invest in essential public goods and respond to crises, and that all citizens fairly share the burden of financing government.” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.
Orchid of the Day: The Stanford women’s basketball team for winning the NCAA women’s championship Sunday night.
Onion of the Day: To the state legilators who are dead set on making it harder to vote. In the majority of our states it is easier to buy a gun than it is to vote.