Check out Canadian's Top Ten List of America's Stupidity

Canada's version of David Letterman's Top 10. Just makes you want to shake your head in disbelief, and, just maybe choke someone in charge.

This is Canada's Top Ten List of America 's Stupidity -

Of course we look like idiots - we are!

# 10 Only in America ... could politicians talk about the greed of the rich at a $35,000.00 per plate Obama campaign fund-raising event.
# 09 Only in America... could people claim that the government still discriminates against black Americans when they have a black President, a black Attorney General and roughly 20% of the federal workforce is black while only 14% of the population is black, 40+% of all federal entitlements goes to black Americans - 3X the rate that go to whites, 5X the rate that go to Hispanics!
# 08 Only in America... could they have had the two people most responsible for our tax code, Timothy Geithner (the head of the Treasury Department) and Charles Rangel (who once ran the Ways and Means Committee), BOTH turn out to be tax cheats who are in favor of higher taxes.
# 07 Only in America... can they have terrorists kill people in the name of Allah and have the media primarily react by fretting that Muslims might be harmed by the backlash.
# 06 Only in America... would they make people who want to legally become American citizens wait for years in their home countries and pay tens of thousands of dollars for the privilege, while they discuss letting anyone who sneaks into the country illegally just 'magically' become American citizens. (probably should be number one)
# 05 Only in America ... could the people who believe in balancing the budget and sticking by t he country's Constitution be called EXTREMISTS.
# 04 Only in America ... could you need to present a driver's license to cash a check or buy alcohol, but not to vote.
# 03 Only in America ... could people demand the government investigate whether oil companies are gouging the public because the price of gas went up when the return on equity invested in a major U.S. Oil company (Marathon Oil) is less than half of a company making tennis shoes (Nike).
# 02 Only in America... could you collect more tax dollars from the people than any nation in recorded history, still spend a Trillion dollars more than it has per year - for total spending of $7 Million PER MINUTE, and complain that it doesn't have nearly enough money.
# 01 Only in America.... could the rich people - who pay 86% of all income taxes - be accused of not paying their "fair share" by people who don't pay any income taxes at all.

Bait restriction reminder from the DNR

As the 2015 Winter Free Fishing Weekend quickly approaches, Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds anglers that the use of salmon eggs or minnows for bait is restricted in some waters as part of a continuing effort to slow the spread of viral hemorrhagic septicemia.

Anglers who purchase minnows for bait should make sure that they are certified as VHS-free. Certified disease-free bait is widely available and may be used anywhere for 14 days after purchase. As a reminder, anglers no longer need to keep their bait receipts with them while using purchased bait. The use of uncertified bait is restricted on where it can be used and can only be used for three days after purchase or collection. 

• Uncertified bait from the VHSv Free Management Areas can be used anywhere in the state. 
• Uncertified bait from VHSv Surveillance Areas can only be used in VHSv Surveillance or Positive Areas. 
• Uncertified bait from VHSv Positive Areas can only be used in VHSv Positive Areas and are those waters where VHS has been detected and confirmed. 

All bait collected by anglers is considered uncertified bait. Information on which waters are in which VHSv Management Areas is in the fishing guide and online at michigan.gov/vhs.  VHS is a viral disease that causes fish to die from internal bleeding and has caused mortalities among a number of species of fish in Michigan waters. The disease has been found in the Michigan waters of lakes Erie, Huron and Superior and has been detected in Lake Michigan, though not in Michigan waters. It has been found in at least two inland lakes – Budd Lake in Clare County and Baseline Lake in Washtenaw County. While active VHS infections have not been detected in Michigan for several years, the virus continues to cause mortalities in other parts of the Great Lakes."There is no known treatment for VHS," said DNR Research Manager Gary Whelan. "We must continue to educate anglers in an effort to prevent its spread."

Learn more about fishing opportunities and the health of Michigan's fisheries at michigan.gov/fishing.

Free Fishing Weekend coming Saturday and Sunday

On Saturday, Feb. 14, and Sunday, Feb. 15, everyone in Michigan – including residents and non-residents – can fish without a license, though all other fishing regulations still apply.

These two days make up the Winter Free Fishing Weekend – an annual effort to promote Michigan’s world-class fishing opportunities. While many individuals and families will bundle up and head out to fish for free on their own, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources points out there are many organized events scheduled throughout the state to celebrate the weekend as well. Some of these events include:

Pure Curtis Weekend at Big Manistique Lake (Mackinac County)Feb. 14, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.The town of Curtis will host an adult ice fishing tournament, a kids' ice fishing contest and outdoor events throughout the city. Tournament registration will be held at Mick’s Bait Shop at the cost of $15 per entry.

Winter Festival at Bay City Recreation Area (Bay County)Feb. 14, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.This event offers youth an opportunity to participate in an ice fishing clinic where they construct an ice fishing jig, design a lure and learn tips on ice fishing. The derby is held on Tobico Lagoon. Pre-drilled holes, free hot refreshments and warming fire, bait and loaner fishing rods will be provided. Please note a Recreation Passport is required for entry.

Free Ice Fishing Derby at Seven Lakes State Park (Oakland County)Feb. 14, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This event will offer loaner equipment and instruction to participants. It will be held at the Fisherman’s Cove Shelter at the park. This event is assisted by members of the Izaak Walton League of America. Please note a Recreation Passport is required for entry.

Northland Sportsmen’s Club Winter Ice Fishing Derby at Otsego Lake State Park
(Otsego County) - Feb. 14, 8:30 a.m. to noonThis event is for kids age zero to 16. Participants must register at the lake prior to the 8:30 a.m. start time. Bait, tackle and ice holes will be provided. There will be hot beverages on the lake. Please note a Recreation Passport is required for entry.

Family Ice Fishing & Bonfire at Waterloo Recreation Area (Washtenaw County)Feb. 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Make your own ice fishing jig stick at the Eddy Discovery Center and then head to Mill Lake to try ice fishing. There will be ice fishing demonstrations as well as an area cleared for ice skating. Warm up afterwards around a bonfire with marshmallows and hot chocolate. Please note a Recreation Passport is required for entry.

Please note that all events are subject to weather conditions.

There are many other events scheduled in other locations throughout the state, including in the counties of Arenac, Baraga, Chippewa, Emmet, Gogebic, Huron, Ingham, Presque Isle, St. Clair and Van Buren. Information about these events, including those listed above, can be found at michigan.gov/freefishing.

Michigan has celebrated the Winter Free Fishing Weekend annually since 1994. With more than 3,000 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, tens of thousands of miles of rivers and streams, and 11,000 inland lakes, Michigan and fishing are a natural match.

DNR receives updated Graymont proposal for Upper Peninsula land transaction

Michigan Department of Natural Resources has received a revised land transaction application from Graymont, Inc. The company is proposing development of a limestone mining operation in northern Mackinac County near the town of Rexton. The land transaction application amends a January 2015 version of the proposal.

The revised land transaction application is unchanged in the total amount and location of public land under consideration. The new application proposes an increase in the offered royalty payment for the limestone to be mined.

Under the revised application, Graymont would pay the state 30 cents for each ton of extracted limestone, up from an earlier offer of 18.75 cents per ton.

Those royalties would be deposited into the State Parks Endowment Fund. In addition, Graymont is proposing to develop a regional economic development fund to provide grants for local units of government, schools and/or small businesses.

The company has proposed to pay a timber consideration fee on Tract A, limit wetland impacts on Tract E, and has suggested possible routes for the relocation of recreation trails on Tract E. The entire revised proposal, along with maps of tracts under consideration, can be found at www.michigan.gov/graymontproposal.

The transaction had been slated for a decision by DNR Director Keith Creagh at the Feb. 12 Natural Resources Commission meeting in Lansing. However, in order to allow the public and the DNR to thoroughly review this revised proposal, the director will now make a decision on the land transaction no earlier than the March 19 NRC meeting in Roscommon.The company has a second proposal pending – a mineral exchange application – which remains unchanged from a Jan. 15 application.

This proposal seeks to exchange more than 1,700 acres of state-owned minerals under the Hiawatha National Forest in Chippewa County for 1,700 acres of Graymont-owned minerals under state-owned lands in northern Mackinac County. The mineral exchange application will go before Creagh for a decision at the Feb. 12 NRC meeting. The mineral exchange proposal can be found on the DNR website at www.michigan.gov/graymontproposal.

There are multiple ways people can provide comments about these proposals. The public will have an opportunity to make comments at upcoming NRC meetings.

DNR continues to maintain an email address for the public to comment. Interested parties may send comments to DNRGraymontProposalComments@michigan.gov. Mailed comments can be sent to the Roscommon Customer Service Center, ATTN: Kerry Wieber, 8717 N. Roscommon Road, Roscommon, MI 48653.

Comments will be accepted until a final decision is made.