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Thursday, June 22, 2006
Motorcycle madness!
ABATE (American Bikers Aiming Toward Education) of Michigan "is a freedom of choice organization. Believing that the rider is best able to decide the type of motorcycle to ride, and the type and extent of safety gear worn. [Their] primary objective is to monitor motorcycle related legislation and encourage all members to become politically involved."
Well, it looks like they've succeeded with one of their objectives. Jack Lessenberry writes: "Both houses have happily voted to repeal the helmet law, and unless Gov. Jennifer Granholm vetoes it, you are going to pay. How so? We'll get to that. But first - many bikers seem to be happily greeting the helmet repeal, much in the same way a herd of lemmings is excited to discover a steep cliff. For there is absolutely no doubt that if the governor doesn’t veto this bill, more people will die. That's a story told by the statistics from every state that has dropped its helmet laws. When pressed, motorcyclists admit this is true. Nevertheless, they say they should have a right to take this risk." Read or listen to Essay: Ahead of the Game - 6/21/06. Also read or listen to the companion Interview: Lydia Kostyniuk - 6/21/06 by Jack Lessenberry's Essays and Interviews The Michigan State Police website sites these facts:
Here are the current requirements for a motorcyle endorsement. I think that, regardless of the helmet law status, riders should ALSO be required to watch a video of motorcycle crashes AND listen to victims talk about their head and neck injuries resulting from helmetless riding. Then they can decide how to ride. What do you think?
Barnyard Animal Extinctions by GLRC Environment Report
GLRC writes about the fate of old breeds of barnyard animals. Chris Lehman reports: "Certain breeds of common barnyard creatures are no longer considered commercially viable, and are being allowed to die off. But,...there's an effort to preserve some rare varieties of livestock".
Chris continues, today's farmers "prefer animals that are specially bred to produce more meat in less time. That's all well and good if your motive is profit. But some people think the move towards designer farm animals is risky." Listen to or read BARNYARD ANIMAL EXTINCTIONS by GLRC Environment Report Also check out The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, which "protects genetic diversity in livestock and poultry species through the conservation and promotion of endangered breeds. These rare breeds are part of our national heritage and represent a unique piece of the earth's bio-diversity. The loss of these breeds would impoverish agriculture and diminish the human spirit."
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Welcome to Summer!
Summer is officially here. Let's take a brief trip through some Michigan Summer sites and sounds.
First, check out this photo entitled Caribbean of the North by Michigan in Pictures. It was taken on "US 2 along the north shore of Lake Michigan is absolutely loaded with sandy, gorgeous beaches. Welcome to summer!" The Michigan Travel website states, "With 3,200 miles of freshwater coastline touching the Great Lakes of Erie, Huron, Superior and Michigan there are plenty of great beaches to relax in the summer sun, or to head out for swimming, boating, fishing and other water adventures." Episode #30 of Inside Muskegon features an interview with Joe Austin with Muskegon Summer Celebration, an 11-day festival featuring entertainment, fireworks, amusements and the Grand Parade. Click here to find other things to see and do this Summer in Michigan. You'll find interests for every taste and age.
Pow Wows in Michigan
In NOISE PhotoBlog yesterday, Jeremy Herliczek writes [about his photos]: "The Riverbank Traditional Powwow took place this weekend on the banks of the Grand River at Louis Adado Riverfront Park in downtown Lansing."
Read Powwow on the Grand and watch the audio slideshow. So, what is a Pow Wow? According to an aritcle on Powwows.com, "Pow Wow time is the Native American people's way of meeting together, to join in dancing, singing, visiting, renewing old friendships and make new ones. This is a time to renew thought of the old ways and to preserve a rich heritage." Click here to learn more. 2006 Michigan Pow Wows Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians 25th Annual Pow Wow and Summer Gathering and Traditional Pow wow will be held from the 28th of June until the 2nd of July 2006. The theme for this years Pow wow will be "Healing Mother Earth". The Preservation of Native American Culture (P.O.N.A.C.) will host the Gagaguwon Traditional Pow Wow, that will be held in Oscoda on July 29 & 30. Saginaw Chippewa 22nd Annual Pow Wow will be held August 4-6 in Mt. Pleasant. Check Powwow Events in Michigan (pdf) on Michigan.gov for this year's schedule of PowWows.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Check out 'Checking In' by Girl in the D
Girl in the D writes about the screening of this Frank Nemecek production, stating it's a documentary film that examines the history and grandeur of one of downtown Detroit's most famous landmarks. Read Check out 'Checking In' for viewing locations and times as well as a link to Frank's production company.
Also read this Freep article from Saturday entitled Book-Cadillac deal nearly done -- really: $176-million rehab is close for historic hotel. John Gallagher writes: The closing means that construction crews should begin work on the hotel in coming weeks as money begins flowing to the Ferchill Group, a Cleveland-based developer that will do the project. It also means that a prime piece of Detroit history -- a place where John F. Kennedy spoke and generations of Detroiters celebrated weddings, bar mitzvahs, retirements and other milestones -- will get a chance to flourish once more. Barring further problems -- and problems are always possible in major projects like this -- the hotel should reopen as the Westin Book-Cadillac in about two or three years. Also 'check out' Jan Kaulin's aerial photo of the Book-Cadillac Hotel. Jan writes: In it's day The Book Cadillac Hotel was one of the grandest of hotel buildings and skyscrapers in the Detroit skyline being 28 stories tall with 1,200 rooms. In fact, when The Book Cadillac Hotel was built, it was not only the tallest building in Detroit, but it was also the tallest hotel in the world! Luminaries such as Presidents Truman, Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy stayed there. Look at Jan's other Historic Detroit Art Photos and these photos from Forgetten Michigan. Frank Nemecek's Blogs include The Warrendale (Detroit) Blog and The Voices in Frank's Head.
Monday, June 19, 2006
Firefly in a jar by Michigan in Pictures
michpics writes: fireflies in a jar, photo by jamelah.
Jamelah writes: I think deep down I'm still 5, because last night I had an incredible amount of fun catching fireflies. Check out this close-up photo of a firefly on Flickr by curiouslee Read fireflies in a jar, with an incredible Summertime photo. Check out all the photos with a summer tag on Michigan in Pictures Also take a peek at wakeboarding #1 another summer scene by there is no happy here Beyond the Bridge, Pt. 1 by Find the River has some nice Upper Peninsula photos in addition to the narrative about Shupac's fishing trip. Be sure to check in for "the rest of the story".
THE THREE COMMANDMENTS by ypsi~dixit
Y. writes: Stephen Colbert's guest the other night was Georgia congressman Lynn Westmoreland, who is co-sponsoring a bill to get the 10 commandments displayed in the House of Representatives.
Read ypsi-dixit's post and be sure to watch the video. Then smile because you're not from the 8th District of Georgia!
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