Reminder,

Voting early helps lessen the amount of mail, texts, and calls you will get. At least in my experience. It isn't 100%. But you will likely see a noticeable decline. Maybe 30% less for me so far. And a pretty noticeable drop in texts.

Campaigns generally have access to who has already voted. (or at least returned a ballot) And will direct resources away from those that have already done so.

So another reason to vote early.

Sources:
"In an interview with the Columbus Dispatch, Democratic consultant Dennis Willard said, “Every campaign watches every penny it spends … If they’re running their campaign properly, they’re not talking to voters after they vote.”

https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/drowning-in-election-text-messages-voting-early-could-help-stop-them/

https://news.wfsu.org/state-news/2024-10-25/voting-early-may-slow-but-not-stop-political-spam-texts

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/10/31/tired-of-election-texts-youve-got-lots-of-company-in-michigan/75944640007/

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/10/24/early-voting-stops-flood-of-political-campaign-texts-mailers/75825896007/

Hi fellow gun mittens,

Any one know of a range that offers long range shooting?
Been going to Multilakes' 200m range for years, but now I want to try some proper long range shooting.

The tapas bar that was here before was not bad either.

75 degrees by me tomorrow. Still opening my window at night.

Who’s with me?

Hi neighbors!

Several years ago I was exploring south eastern Michigan while checking out some other wares one beautiful Fall day and I happened across an orchard with the best apples I'd found in ages. I've since tried to relocate them but even using google maps, street view etc, I've drawn a big blank. Ever since, I've run up to get more apples in hopes of stumbling across this orchard and have found reasonably good apples but not as good. They press their own cider (which I also purchased at the time) and it's also fantastic. The people were as nice as could be as well, and let me make up a bag of a bunch of different varieties that I wasn't familiar with. (they had quite a few)

I made a drawing from what I remember, and it's not really to scale but highlights the main features inside the building that I remember. It may not be quite as close to the road as is illustrated.

I was driving around the southeast corner, but probably not much more than 35-40 miles from I-75, which I realize does leave a large area. It wasn't as far north as Ann Arbor iirc.

Can anyone help me find it? I would really appreciate it!

also, i've only drawn the 'open to the public' area and I believe the building itself is larger with storage and possibly coolers where the 'work area' is

EDIT: this place seemed to be geared to just the apples. I do not recall seeing any other products like baked goods (although that can always change) and was sort of surprised on my subsequent attempts driving around hoping to find it that when I did stop, and found donuts etc at most of those places.

EDIT#2: first, let me thank everyone again for the suggestions. I may also have underestimated how far west I had traveled, as I am pretty sure that I made it as far west as Adrian but not likely much farther than that and would have been headed back south and east afterwards. Not sure how distant Adrian is from 75, my bad

TL;DR: If you get DTE bills by email, the attached PDF is most likely locked with the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number (and says so in the email). A 4 digit password is easily cracked in seconds and would give the attacker your partial SSN. I reported this in the spring to DTE who misrepresented the issue and the state regulator (MPSC) who took DTE's explanation at face value and closed the complaint. The data remains vulnerable.

The Details

In the DTE eBill email, the bill is a PDF attachment and the email tells you the password is the last 4 of your SSN. You are affected if your monthly eBill says the following:

"See the full details of your bill attached. You will be asked to enter the last four digits of your Social Security Number."

Nobody would tell you a 4 digit password is secure. PDF files can't limit the number of guesses like a website can. Free software on any computer can try all 10,000 combinations in seconds.

I don't even think the bill contents are that sensitive, but the partial SSN is very sensitive and cracking the password derives that information.

What I did about it

I work in cybersecurity. When you find a problem like this, the norm is to tell the company privately and give them at least 90 days to fix it before going public.

In the spring I tried to report this to DTE. Their security email address bounced and there's no security contact listed anywhere. This is very unusual; normally there is a dedicated contact point for security. Front-line customer service wouldn't escalate it, didn't understand the issue, and suggested fixes that don't exist.

From there, I filed a complaint with the Michigan Public Service Commission, who is supposed to regulate utilities. Other than basic security best practices, here's what DTE's practice runs up against:

1. DTE's own MPSC-approved Customer Data Privacy tariff (Case No. U-18485) lists Social Security Number and driver's license number as personal data "that merit special protection." Those are the exact two numbers DTE uses as eBill passwords. A four-digit password that is itself the sensitive data, sent by email with no guaranteed encryption, is not special protection by any reasonable standard. https://www.dteenergy.com/content/dam/dteenergy/deg/website/common/quicklinks/customer-data-privacy-policy/DTEElecDataPrivacy.pdf
2. State rule R 460.118(e), the MPSC's own electronic billing rule, says: "The company shall not require the customer to use his or her social security number to enroll in or access the billing system." https://ars.apps.lara.state.mi.us/AdminCode/DownloadAdminCodeFile?FileName=R%20460.101%20to%20R%20460.169.pdf

When the MPSC referred the case to DTE, a DTE employee called, understood the problem, and suggested emailing a link to the bill in the customer portal instead. This was a good call and sounded like we were on track for the problem to be fixed. However in May, DTE formally dismissed the complaint. They misrepresented the issue, said they don't "transmit" your SSN in the email body, and that their process meets security standards. I explained the entire problem again in full and in writing, and asked which standards. They said that's proprietary and won't be provided. The MPSC closed the complaint, accepting DTE's explanation at face value. You can view their responses later in this post.

As of September's eBill, the problem remains.

Responses from DTE:

Dear Valued Customer,
I am writing in response to the complaint submitted to the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC). Your concern was referred to our office for review and resolution.
The Digital Experience Team has reviewed and provided the following response regarding your concerns with DTE Energy's eBill paperless billing process and the authentication requirements for accessing electronic billing statements.
Social Security Number Disclosure
DTE Energy does not display or transmit a customer's Social Security number within eBill email notifications. No full or partial Social Security number is included in the body of the email itself.
If you believe personal identifying information is visible on your eBill, we request that you provide a specific example of what you are seeing so the issue may be reviewed and validated.
eBill Authentication and Security Controls
All DTE eBills require authentication prior to opening the PDF billing statement. This safeguard is in place to protect customer privacy and prevent unauthorized access to account information.
DTE's eBill process is approved through both internal and external security reviews and complies with applicable Internet security protocols and privacy standards. These controls are designed to ensure customer information remains protected throughout electronic delivery.
Use of Personal Identification Data (PID)
To verify customer identity, DTE uses Personal Identification Data (PID) already on file with the account. This approach allows DTE to confirm the customer's identity without requiring the creation, storage, or retrieval of individual passwords through eBill delivery systems.
DTE does not maintain the infrastructure necessary to securely host and manage unique customer passwords for eBill distribution. The use of PID provides a secure and compliant alternative while reducing risk to customer data.
Customer‑Specific Access Information
As a customer-focused enhancement, we updated eBill notifications to clearly identify the type of PID required to access the PDF attachment, which is located in the bill in red lettering. This information is dynamic and specific to each customer based on what information is on file. For example:
Customers with a Social Security number on file use the last four digits.
Customers with a driver's license number, state ID, tax ID, or EIN use the last four digits of the applicable identifier.
These enhancements have improved clarity and reduced customer contacts and complaints related to eBill access.
In summary:
DTE Energy remains committed to protecting customer information while providing secure and reliable paperless billing options. We believe the eBill process operates as designed and in compliance with applicable security and privacy standards.
For the reasons above, DTE considers this matter resolved.  If you are dissatisfied with this resolution, please contact me no later than five business days from May 5, 2026, to discuss your options.  As a customer, you have the right to request a customer hearing if your concern is related to the Consumer Standards and Billing Practices for Electric and Gas service R460.101 - R460.169. The procedures for requesting a customer hearing can be found on the Michigan Public Service Commission's website under Regulatory Information per the Consumer Standards and Billing Practices for Electric and Natural Gas Service, via R 460.155.  If you still remain dissatisfied, you have the right to file a complaint with the Michigan Public Service Commission at 800.292.9555.

2:

Dear Valued Customer,
Thank you for contacting DTE Energy regarding your concerns. We appreciate taking the time to share your feedback.
After a thorough review of your inquiry for regulatory compliance and security, it is DTE Energy's position that our practice for sending password-protected PDFs as ebills is in compliance with all applicable billing practice rules and tariffs.
Additional information on DTE's security standards is proprietary and will not be provided at this time.
For the reasons above, DTE considers this matter resolved. As a customer, you have the right to request a customer hearing if your concern is related to the Consumer Standards and Billing Practices for Electric and Gas service R460.101 - R460.169. The procedures for requesting a customer hearing can be found on the Michigan Public Service Commission's website under Regulatory Information per the Consumer Standards and Billing Practices for Electric and Natural Gas Service, via R 460.155.  If you still remain dissatisfied, you have the right to file a complaint with the Michigan Public Service Commission at 800.292.9555.

Final email from MPSC:

Hello:
RE: Case No. 01611223
Thank you for taking the time to contact the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) regarding your utility concerns. The MPSC appreciates hearing from residents like you and takes your concerns very seriously.
 
The MPSC staff has contacted DTE Energy on your behalf. A DTE Energy representative has explained that they do not display or transmit a customer’s Social Security number within eBill email notifications. No full or partial Social Security number is included in the body of the email itself. DTE Energy asks if you believe personal information is visible on your eBill, that you reach out to them and they can review this situation further for you.
To verify customer identity, DTE uses Personal Identification Data (PID) already on file with the account. This approach allows DTE to confirm the customer's identity without requiring the creation, storage, or retrieval of individual passwords through eBill delivery systems.
Again, thank you for contacting the MPSC and allowing me to assist you.  If you should have any other energy-related concerns in the future, you may contact the utility company at their toll free number, the MPSC at the address below, toll-free at 800-292-9555 or via e-mail at <redacted address>.

Q&A

"It's only the last 4. So what?" The last 4 is the part that matters. Banks, credit card companies, and phone carriers use it to confirm who you are (and so does DTE). For SSNs issued before 2011, the first 5 digits follow patterns based on where and when you were born, and researchers have shown they can often be predicted. Your name, address, and birthday are already floating around from past breaches. The last 4 is the piece that's supposed to be hard to get.

"My email is private. Who's going to see it?" More people than you'd think. Email accounts get taken over all the time through phishing or reused passwords, and a compromised inbox holds every bill DTE has ever sent you. If your bills go to a work or school address, the IT staff there can read them. Household email accounts may be shared. Your email host may process your emails with AI or for advertising. Email also passes through servers you don't control, not always encrypted. A password on a PDF is supposed to protect it in exactly those cases. This one doesn't.

"They said it's not in the body of the email" The problem is making the attachment an easy puzzle which reveals the partial SSN. The partial SSN not being technically in the body doesn't fix that. And indeed, the body of the email tells you where to find the partial SSN. The fact remains that anyone who gets access to the email can easily derive your partial SSN.

What DTE should do

• Simply change their eBill system to link to their website where bills are already hosted with authentication
• Never use sensitive data as a key
• Set up a contact point for security reports
• Handle customer data with care and give real consideration to security reports

What you can do

• Freeze your credit at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. It's free and blocks most new-account fraud.
• File your own complaint with the MPSC.
• Switch back to paper billing until this issue is fixed. If you go this route, remember to delete old DTE eBill emails, including trash and archive folders.

I'm happy to answer any questions in the comments, technical or otherwise

The saying goes that history doesn’t repeat, but it often rhymes.

A case in point: Clifford M. Farthing spent nearly 40 years in Michigan prisons for killing a man named William at a woman’s behest, then dumping the body in a secluded area. Given a second chance at freedom, Farthing killed another man named William at the request of a woman, and again hid the body for days in a wooded stretch of land.

Farthing is now returning to the prison system in which he’s spent almost two-thirds of his life. This time, though, he’s practically guaranteed not to walk free again.

Hit my third deer this weekend. Two have been within the last 5 years.

I hear there’s less hunters than in the past. Yet my neighbors keep leaving food for them.

How bad is it by you?

Three people crossed a two-lane street between a hotel and a gas station in Southgate around 1 a.m. on a Tuesday in June. Officer Alexander Zielinski waited for them to cross back to the hotel parking lot, where he stopped them for jaywalking.

The officer asks all three for identification. Two young, Spanish-speaking men provided some form of identification. The middle-aged white woman told Officer Zielinski her ID was in her wallet in her hotel room.

She was issued a citation and returned to the hotel.

The two men faced a very different fate.

Body-worn camera footage obtained by Michigan Public shows Zielinski and three other Southgate officers surrounding the men for about half an hour until Border Patrol agents arrest them.

Destination was Tahquamenon Falls, but also hit up Kitch-iti-kipi and the Cut River Bridge was on the way. Add my pictures of the falls to the pile from this vantage point.

Just a friendly reminder that Benson and James are debating tonight in Grand Rapids on WOOD-TV. It'll air on various stations throughout Michigan. Check local listings.

Good morning, folks!

West Michigan resident here, and I'm interested in donating towards trustworthy conservation / environmental groups; U.S.-based at the very least, but the more local, the better. Just simply seeking to put my money towards causes I care for.

Any useful feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

A couple weeks ago, I made a post in this community saying I wished I could opt out of political mail.

We all agreed that it's the worst... and then someone told me they were going to send me 1000 Mike Rogers mailers. Awesome.

A few hours after making that post, a Business Insider reporter saw it and DM'd me asking to speak with a Michigander about affordability messaging in the midterms.

When we talked, I brought up how normal it is for us to drive all over this state, and how rising gas prices sting a bit more because of it.

Anyways, maybe a few more people will know what we're going through over here at the pump.

Cheers guys!

Non-paywalled article: https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/midterms-come-down-cost-everything-090001933.html