Free Republic

Erik Rintamaki was searching for rocks on a Michigan beach last summer when he made what he calls a "mind blowing" discovery. Resting among the thousands of pebbles covering the Lake Superior beach, Rintamaki saw a glowing rock. The gem and mineral dealer told CBS News he often goes rock hunting. But on this particular June night, he found a rock unlike any other — a florescent orb that he later named "Yooperlite." Like lava glowing through cracks in the earth, a glowing light seeped out of the lines in the small rock. Rintamaki knew this couldn't be the only...

Regular readers of CapCon know that we have provided extensive coverage of government employee unions and the results of the policies they have put into place. The following is a list of the top 10 stories we have covered in the past year directly relating to the unionization of government employees or the results of policies advocated by public sector unions. “Parents Forced to Pay Union Dues, Lawmaker Rakes In Health Care Money”: Robert and Patricia Haynes take care of their two adult children, who are stricken with cerebral palsy. The children receive Medicaid money from the government in which...

Barack Obama was in the Oval Office when his telephone rang. "Hallo, President Obama?" a heavily accented Yooper voice said. "This is Sven, up here at Olie's Bar and Steak House in Bruce Crossing, Michigan. I am callin' to tell ya'll that we are officially declaring war on ya!" "Well Sven," Barack replied, "This is indeed important news! How big is your army?" "Right now," said Sven, after a moment's calculation "there is myself, my cousin Olie, my next-door-neighbor Randy, and the whole dart team from Pine's Bar. That makes eight." Barack paused. "I must tell you Sven that I...

The Tea Party Express is predicting large crowds for five events Thursday and Friday aimed at unseating U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Michigan. The events are being held in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, which is part of the Democrat's large and rural First Congressional District. The rallies come as sources said the top two House Democrats called Stupak to urge him to stay in Congress. A Stupak spokeswoman didn't confirm or deny rumors that the lawmaker is considering retiring from Congress. "Every two years, Congressman Stupak discusses with his family and his constituents whether to seek re-election. He believes that is...

U.P. sticker still a hit after 20 years Published Tuesday, December 7, 2004 1:03:45 PM Central Time The Associated Press MARQUETTE, Mich. (AP) -- Since their inception 20 years ago, "Say Yah to Da U.P., Eh!" bumper stickers have been sold in the thousands and are seen from Los Angeles to New York. Creator Jack Bowers said the idea came from a spoof of the state's 1982 "Say Yes to Michigan" campaign. "The Kerry/Edwards and Bush/Cheney stickers will be gone long before our sticker," said Bowers, a 58-year-old Marquette resident. "I mean, what other bumper sticker has lasted this long?"...

Duluth becoming a hot campaign stop for presidential hopefuls The Associated Press 7/11/2004, 5:27 p.m. ET (AP) — The presence of both major presidential candidates in the Duluth area within two weeks shows the region's significance — a major media market that covers parts of three battleground states for the 2004 election. President Bush is scheduled to visit on Tuesday and Sen. John Kerry was recently in nearby Cloquet. Nothern Minnesota residents are enjoying the attention. "Prior to 2000, we tended to be a place where only vice-presidential candidates came, if anyone," said Craig Grau, political science professor at the...

Holy whah! Some Yoopers fear colorful dialect may be fading By JOHN FLESHER The Associated Press 2/21/2004, 7:50 a.m. ET HOUGHTON, Mich. (AP) — Dan Junttila is a proud Yooper. So proud that he teaches a course at the local middle school on the history and culture of his beloved Upper Peninsula. So he would mourn if one of the most notable characteristics of da U.P. — dat colorful way of talkin' dey got up dere — were to fade away, eh? Holy whah! "I love the dialect," says the 51-year-old Junttila, born and bred in the western U.P.'s mining...

Wolves may be returning to Door County The Associated Press 6/29/2003, 2:02 p.m. ET NEWPORT STATE PARK, Wis. (AP) — Wolves are continuing their remarkable comeback by returning to one of the most unlikely spots in northern Wisconsin — tourist-rich Door County. There may now be as many as a half dozen animals in the county coming in from Michigan's Upper Peninsula, said Adrian Wydeven, head of the state Department of Natural Resources wolf recovery program. Door County is an unlikely spot for wolves because it is cut off from northern Wisconsin wolf packs by the Sturgeon Bay canal and...