SO WE’RE ALL congratulating ourselves for pulling down the Confederate flag and electing an African-American president twice and just generally being open-minded, prejudice-free Americans.
Well, we might wanna think twice about that here in the U.P.
A recent study suggests that the western two thirds of the U.P., including Marquette County, is “much more racist than average.”
The study’s methodology is interesting. It based its ratings on the number of Google searches containing the N-word that were made from each media market across the U.S . When you think about it, it sounds pretty valid. A lot of folks won’t admit publicly that they’re racist, but put them in a room alone with a computer, and the truth may come out.
Apparently, we have plenty of folks among us who are comfortable with the N-word. Sadly, we shouldn’t be surprised.
Surprisingly perhaps, the most racist searches on Google come not in the South but along the spine of the Appalachians running from Georgia all the way up to southern Vermont.
So goodie, we’ve got something in common with Appalachia.
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YOU HEARD ABOUT vaping, right? It’s reportedly a $6 billion business in the U.S.
Well, now we have a second vaping shop in Marquette–Rustic Vapors on Washington Street, where the Green Room used to be located. The store owner is Eric Curtis, a local boy who’s returned home after a decade in Texas.
The other vaping shop is Up in Smoke behind the Great Hunan Chinese Restaurant, just off of US 41.
Oh, so you don’t know what vaping is?
It’s smoking electronic cigarettes (or “mods”) that have all sorts of flavors. Rustic Vapors, for example, features nuclear fruit punch, milk and honey and caramel cappuccino, among others. Kinda like smoking candy.
And some movie stars are known to be vapers…or vapors…vapists?…so it’s gotta be cool.
In any case, vaping afficionados will tell you that vaping delivers nicotine, just like a cigarette, but without all the chemicals and carcinogens. Or without most of them, anyway.
So if you can’t kick the nicotine habit, this seems like the better way to go. Not sure whether the American Medical Association has weighed in on this yet or not.
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SOME OF US have been worried that Marquette may not be able to attract doctors because of our cold weather and geographical remoteness.
Well, how about this ad currently appearing in Linked in?
Job description: “Dermatololgist needed to take over a booming practice! $75K Sign on bonus. Welcome to northern Michigan. Found on the shimmering shore of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Marquette offers life at a different pace surrounded by nature’s best at every turn. Enjoy the dining, modern accommodations and a myriad of events, surrounded by rugged landscapes and forests that stretch as far as the eye can see….”
“Highly competitive salary of $350K, plus generous percentage of collections based bonus…”
“SIGN ON BONUS of $75,000”
“Full benefits including medical, dental, vision, 401k, paid time off, paid CME, and more!”
Okay, okay, we get it.
You had me at $350K.
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IT’S A TALE of two mining companies.
The difference between Cliffs and Lundin couldn’t be more stark.
Lundin, which operates the Eagle Mine and recently made a nearby discovery of another promising nickel and copper deposit, has been selling recently at about $4.33 a share. But analysts are rating it a BUY, with a target price of anywhere from $7.25 to $7.83. Either way, that’s a nifty little profit.
Cliff’s, on the other hand, has also been selling in the same range recently–$4.34 a share–but the trend is depressing. It recently dropped another 10%. And the average rating on the stock from 11 analysts is SELL. In other words, they expect it to continue to plummet.
One analyst gave it a report card grade of D-. Ouch.
Looks like the promised turnaround for Cliffs by the new management team is a little slow in getting out of the blocks.
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HOW ABOUT A brew tour? That’s what Travel Marquette (along with Checker Transport and Q 107) is now promoting.
It’s a great idea for tourists and locals alike.
Here’s how it works: You’re picked up by a shuttle bus every Wednesday at 6 pm at any of eight hotels and motels in Marquette, Ishpeming and Harvey. The bus takes you to three of the six microbreweries and brew pubs in Marquette County. The schedule rotates–three pubs one week, the other three the next week.
You get a tour of the brewing facilities and you get to sample the brews. Afterwards, of course, you can buy anything you want before getting back on the bus and heading to the next brewery. Party time.
Total cost? 30 bucks for the transportation, the tours and and the samples. What a deal.
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