MichiBlogger

Though Michiblogger is currently on hiatus, technical issues have forced me to upgrade to Wordpress. Things will be a little weird for a while.

MORE HOT DOGS: A while back I noted Grading West Michigan’s hot dog joints. For those that can’t get enough of the things, be sure to check out Five Hot Dogs That Will Kill You.

The title is an exaggeration. Barely.

NEW WARSHIP ON LAKE MICHIGAN: Freedom (LCS 1) Begins Builder’s Sea Trials

Freedom (LCS 1), put to sea for the first time, marking the beginning of Builder’s Sea Trials for the first-in-class coastal surface combatant.

The agile 378-foot Freedom, designed and built by a Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT]-led industry team, is conducting Builder’s Sea Trials in Lake Michigan. The trials - which are a coordinated effort between the U.S. Navy and the Lockheed Martin team - will include operational testing of the vessel’s propulsion, communications, navigation and mission systems, as well as all related support systems.

LIONS SCREWED AGAIN: Army orders Lions draft pick Campbell to withdraw

Caleb Campbell will not get a chance to play for the Detroit Lions because of a change in military policy.

Campbell was a seventh-round draft pick for the Lions in April. At the time, Army policy would have allowed the West Point graduate to serve as a recruiter if he made the team.

But a subsequent Department of Defense policy has superseded the 2005 Army policy.

Not that this is really a serious blow to the Lions. Campbell wasn’t projected to have a major impact on the team. But it’s just another example of things going from bad to worse for the struggling team.

SAD:

Taken July 17th. See the whole gallery here.

15 KILOMETERS OF FUN: 2008 Meijer Festival of Races 15K at the Cherry Festival in Traverse City this past weekend:

I ran the race and it was hot and humid. Near the race’s midpoint, on McKinley Street, is a massive hill that doesn’t seem to end. Once you get to the top, it’s even steeper going down the backside. They call that stretch “Mt. McKinley”, and for good reason.

VERY COOL: Download Free PBS Programs from Kent District Library. The price is right.

THIS IS TEST. Move on. There’s nothing to see.

YUM: Grading West Michigan’s hot dog joints

I noticed the Pronto Pup of Grand Haven:

313 S. Harbor, Grand Haven (grandhavenprontopup.com)

Eaten: The Pronto Pup (only thing on the menu), a dog on a stick dipped in batter, cooked in 100 percent vegetable oil and served “naked,” or slathered with ketchup or mustard

Verdict: A lot like a corn dog, but oh, so much better. The use of a wheat-based, rather than corn-based, batter adds an intangible sweetness to the dog. Another classic West Michigan item — available seasonally and the third weekend in January — that’s nearly perfect in its simplicity.

Grade: A

The small Minnesota town where I grew up had a summer festival called the Pow Wow, and one of the top treats was the “Pow Wow Pup,” which many people referred to as a “pronto pup.” I’ve always thought that I liked the Pow Wow Pups more than I like standard corn dogs (which I do like very much) and wondered if it was a different sort of batter. This description of a “pronto pup” makes me think it was. Wikipedia says that the pronto pup had its origin at the Minnesota State Fair.

CARNIVAL OF HOMESCHOOLING: Let’s Go To The Ice Cream Parlor!