LSJ Blogs: John Schneider

Where do you stand on the big snow?

In one corner, we have the students — and perhaps a teacher, or two — hoping and wishing that the 8-14 inches of snow predicted for Tuesday night/Wednesday materializes into a general shut-down of local schools.
In the other corner are working parents with school-age children too young to stay home alone, hoping the Polar Express derails in Chicago.
Who are you rooting for?
 

Anaphylactic shock at the pharmacy counter

Fortunately I have minimal experience with prescription drugs, so excuse my shock …

 

I went to Rite Aid earlier this week to pick up a prescription for my mother — a 30-day supply of Nexium.
“$69.12,” the clerk said.
“She has prescription coverage,” I said.
“I know,” the clerk replied. “The $69.12 is WITH the coverage.”
The full cost: $447.
Ah-ha. So, that’s how health care costs are gobbling up our country …

Gun-free zones are a half-cocked gesture

I’m not a gun nut. Honest! I own rifles and shotguns. But to me, guns are purely a means by which to hunt.
So, I feel a little uncomfortable saying this, but the existence of gun-free zones  flies in the face of logic.

‘I don’t give a damn about dogs’

Apropos of my recent blog about cruelty toward animals always causing more of an outcry than cruelty toward humans comes this e-mail from Michael Williams of Lansing:

Kelley at 86: “I’m not for sale, and never have been.”

Last week, after Gov. Rick Snyder, in his State of the State speech, knocked the wind out of grocery shoppers by proposing repeal of the item-pricing/scanner law, I put a call in to the champion of the law, Frank J. Kelley.

Do the math … and laugh, or weep

Jack Stucko saw a recent TV news story about a local community spending a $50,000 government grant — remember, that’s your money and mine — for a “green” municipal lighting system.
But don’t worry. The system will pay for itself — in 70 years.

 

Another brutalized pit bull …

This one was found frozen inside a cage at Ingham Park, near Dwight Rich Middle School, Friday afternoon.
Ingham County Animal Control Director Jamie McAloon Lampman asks, “What’s going on …”
Are these fighters that didn’t make the grade?
Look for more details on lsj.com, and in my column Tuesday.

Animal cruelty versus human cruelty

From where I sit, I can’t help but notice that the abuse of animals almost always causes a stronger public reaction than the abuse of people.

Whacking the Scanner Law? What the …?

It came from left field — Gov. Rick Snyder’s State of the State proposal to eliminate the state law that requires retailers to put price labels on individual items.

“Rain” makes me want to run and hide my head

I just don’t get the whole “tribute band” thing.
“Rain” (at MSU Wharton Center Jan. 30) is four guys  who sort of look like The Beatles and dress like The Beatles, singing Beatles songs in imitation Beatles voices.
Why?