Postscript on 911

One byproduct of the snowstorm has been interruption of 911 service in northern Michigan.  The Weather Radio broadcast this morning included an announcement that 911 service in Presque Isle County is not working, but one can contact the emergency dispatcher by calling the 7-digit administrative number... whatever that is.

Of more concern was the disclosure that in several northern Michigan counties — from Alcona County south of Alpena to Leelanau County on Grand Traverse Bay — neither 911 nor the administrative lines are in operation.  In an emergency, NOAA said, one should go to the nearest fire station.  Good luck if you're having a heart attack!

Speaking of emergency issues, I just checked the USDA guidelines on food storage during loss of power.  It appears that refrigerated food becomes suspect when the power outage lasts more than four hours.  By that standard, much of my food is surely a goner!  However, I've picked up another cooler and will attempt to salvage as much food as I can.

More about Newtown: The media commentariat has been chattering away today in response to the "press conference" held yesterday morning by the National Rifle Association.  Not surprisingly, NRA head Wayne LaPierre rejected any legislative response to the tragedy at Newtown, CT, and called instead for armed guards in every school in America.  He would also see school administrators, teachers, and parents carrying weapons.  "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun," LaPierre said.  Declaring schools to be fun-free zones leaves our children defenseless, in his view.

LaPierre is just the most visible of the zealots who have taken over the NRA in recent years.  Their calls for weakening gun laws, and their determination to take revenge against any state or federal legislator who disagrees with them, is an outrage against common decency and common sense.  Since Newtown I have become convinced that it is time for hunters and recreational gun users to break their silence and begin to argue against the NRA's leadership.  No one wants to strip hunters of their weapons, and hunters know it.  I believe that most hunters, including NRA members, also understand that military-type weapons have no place in our homes and on our streets.  They need to speak up! •••