I hesitate. . .

. . . to make a 2nd Seinfeld related post this week (I don't even like that show), but this was too funny to pass up. How long until we are all experiencing "wide, luxurious lanes"???

From www.clickondetroit.com

13 Arrested In Connection With Can Scam

Authorities: Smuggling Rings Defrauded Mich. Bottle Deposit Fund

DETROIT -- Authorities said they arrested 13 people and seized more than $500,000 in cash after breaking up a smuggling ring that collected millions of beverage containers in other states and cashed them in for 10 cents apiece in Michigan.

A total of 15 people were named in a 67-count warrant issued as part of Operation Can Scam, Attorney General Mike Cox said Wednesday. Some suspects were members of two smuggling rings based in Ohio and others were Michigan merchants who took part in the scheme, he said.
Investigators alleged that millions of non-redeemable out-of-state cans were collected, crushed, packaged in plastic bags and sold at a discount to merchants who then redeemed them. Bulk redemption payments from the state are based on weight.

The scheme defrauded the Michigan Bottle Deposit Fund, whose proceeds are used to pay for environmental cleanup efforts, Cox said in a statement.

"Each year, this type of activity defrauds the state approximately $13 million," said Col. Peter Munoz, Michigan State Police director.


The charges include maintaining a continuing criminal enterprise, a 20-year felony, and fraud, a 5-year felony, the statement said.


The probe recalled a 1996 episode of "Seinfeld" in which two characters learn about Michigan's 10-cent deposit law and head there with a truckload of 5-cent New York cans, hoping to cash in on the difference, before getting sidetracked.


"A half-million in cash is not 'Seinfeld' humor," Cox spokesman Matt Frendewey said.

Hee

I don't have the energy for a "real" post right now, but I just ran across this and HAD to share.

Shane and Mom especially, go HERE immediately if not sooner or there'll be no soup for you!

I wanted to post this yesterday, but ran out of time. I have only recently become aware of the great DIA conspiracy - wish I'd known about it when I flew through there! I'll definitely be looking into it now.

This may be related to the link above, who knows. Stories like this make this Baptist church-raised girl think immediately of the song "I Wish We'd All Been Ready" from the amazing (and terrifying and all-too-accurate lately) "Thief in the Night" series.

This was kind of awesome in a grotesque sort of way.

Rich, Carolyn, Shane. . . have you been to these??? I have to visit someday!!

I am a HUGE fan of the old (and apparently dead) Gallery of "Misused" Quotation Marks. Carrying on their tradition are the folks (or folk possibly) over at this site. Quotation mark abuse is a serious problem - it's time we started "raising" "money" to prevent it. BONUS: The Apostrophe Protection Society. In case you haven't guessed, I am a bit fanatical about punctuation . . . though, I am in rehab for comma abuse, so at least I acknowledge that I have a problem.

Well, I'm headed off for vacation in a few days - it will be very, VERY good to get away for a while. Please pray for a lack of hurricanes and hurricane-like events while I am away!

Today, we are sad. . .

Mom, Dad and I saw the Maestro a few years ago, and I have never seen anyone command a stage like Pavarotti. The entire atmosphere changed when he stepped onto the stage. As I recall, the tickets cost a fortune and we had terrible seats, but it was the opportunity of a lifetime and we weren't about to miss it! Afterall, how often does the greatest opera singer in the world come to Kansas? Well, Placido Domingo came the next season, but he's the second greatest, so he doesn't count. Plus, there was an audience participation portion of the evening (a piece from La Traviata) so I can honestly say that I sang with Luciano Pavarotti (and 7,500 of my closest friends). Opera isn't my favorite genre (though I do like it), but I was in awe of the master at work. This morning, I fired up my iPod and played the only Pavarotti piece I have on it - Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful) as a tribute to the Maestro. . . even if you don't particularly enjoy opera, seek out some Pavarotti today and listen to a true master.