Absolute Michigan features several bloggers who write about their genealogical research efforts and findings. Today, I thought it would be interesting to visit three of them to examine their various methods and gather tips in the proces.

Your Brother Kings writes:

I can't believe I've been running this blog for as long as I have without plugging an excellent resource that I found for researchers of Michigan history and genealogy (but a search of this blog suggests I haven't). Please check out Michigan County Histories, which is offered by the Humanities Text Initiative at the University of Michigan. You will find over 170 titles scanned in and searchable.

Notes From Away has been researching her grandfather in a very different fashion, and has made a connection as she describes in her post from Monday.

The Italian Hall Tragedy writes about and has photos of some memorabilia he has collected over the years, some from Italian Hall and others connected to the tragedy. He writes:

During my various travels and studies in the UP, I've managed to start a nice collection of memorabilia.

Read Michigan County Histories online.Your Brother Kings
And read Better than the DaVinci Code, at times. also by Your Brother Kings
Read The Zanky connection by Notes From Away
Also read Cooper Country Souvenirs by The Italian Hall Tragedy
Check out Absolute Michigan's Stories from Michigan History Magazine page

Take a look at this amazing photo of the Eye of the Talon Center by Detroit News Photographer John T. Greilick. Then travel to the tranquility of the North Manitou Dock courtesy of Jolli Lodge Photo Blog. Next, go in the forest with there is no happy here where you might happen upon this scene entitled Busy as a Bee by Giancarlo Rinna. Look out... Big Brother is watching you so Chase your dreams, both by The Adventures of a Brit Abroad. Lastly, look at Taking a STAND: Genocide in Darfur by Jeremy of NOISE PhotoBlog.

Kitchen Chick writes:

Pho is a traditional Vietnamese soup with rice noodles, bean sprouts, and meat (often beef) served in a beef broth. It comes with cilantro, onions, hot peppers, a lime (or lemon), and sriracha (hot sauce) and hoisin sauce, and maybe a few other things depending on the particular pho. Though often pronounced like "foe" by English speakers, it actually sounds more "fuh". Which leads to a lot of bad puns.

Normally, people eat pho in restaurants, but here in Ann Arbor, you can get a tasty pho kit delivered directly to your door. (Don't live in Ann Arbor? Check out the pho experts to find a pho restaurant near you.)

Read Pho Kits from Paradise by Kitchen Chick

Mike Wendland writes:

My NBC-TV "High Tech Talk" segment this week is on a fascinating collection of bloggers from Iraq called the Olivebranch Network.

Posted in the comments is a link to the story of how the Olivebranch Network was formed, which is very interesting as well. Antony Loewenstein wrote on February 15th:

In early January, I announced a competition to find a young journalist keen to develop his or her skills and an opportunity to start a website, display their work and develop a unique voice away from the corporate media.

I received a number of applications, many of whom could have been worthy winners. However, a decision had to be made.

The winner is Luke Skinner, a 19-year-old living in Perth. I discovered his blog and found his activism and attitude infectious. He has a deep interest in the Middle East and Western involvement in the region. He campaigned strongly against the Iraq war. He told me he wanted to bring reason to the debate over the Middle East by launching a website dedicated to new voices in the blogsophere. Olivebranch Network was born.

Read Olive Branch Iraqi bloggers and watch Mike's "High Tech Talk" segment
Read Olivebranch Network is Born on The Olivebranch Network Blog

Bill Steffen directs his readers to the Michigan Tech Aurora page to view Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) and learn more about when and why they occur.

Read Northern Lights on Bill's Blog
Check out these images of Aurora Borealis from space taken by the Space Shuttle and DMSP Satellite
Take a look at Sweetwater Visions' Aurora photos
And finally, these images by Lake Superior Photo

The GLRC's Lester Graham reports:

Since the dust bowl days of the 1930s Depression, the government has been working with farmers to reduce erosion. Today, soil conservation is better. But fields still lose a lot of topsoil because not all farmers use the best conservation methods. Dirt is washed away by rain. That silt clogs up streams, rivers and lakes. But one region is trying to intercept the silt before it gets to the river system.

Read or listen to PAYING FOR PONDS TO STEM FARM RUNOFF by GLRC Environment Report
Take a look at Paw Paw Barn featured today on Michigan in Pictures
Check out this photo Gothic Barn in Leelanau County at jefflamb photo.com

Kitchen Chick writes:

Last weekend I went up in a glider. It was so exciting that I just had to share, even though it has nothing to do with food. Well, that's not completely true. My friends shared their amazing sandwiches (I must get the recipe) and I shared some blueberry muffins (recipe at end of post). See? I did make it food related.

She continues:

At last at some 2,600 plus feet the pilot released the cable and there is this moment of utter weightlessness as the glider goes from being pulled to flying on its own.

Read Gliding and Blueberry Muffins by Kitchen Chick
Visit Wikipedia's entry for Glider including history, launch methods, designs and much more
Visit Benz Aviation of Ionia for information on Glider Rides
Read about the Waco CG-4A Glider Display at the
Cornish Pump and Mining Museum in Ironwood

Detroit Wonk writes:

Yesterday the Detroit Shock drew a sellout crowd of over 19,000 at Joe Louis Arena (the Palace was booked for a Mariah Carey concert) as they took on the Sacramento Monarchs in the final and deciding game of the WNBA Finals.

According to the Shock website:

Shock guard Deanna Nolan scored a game-high 24 points, plus posted four rebounds, four assists and two blocks in Game 5 on her way to earning the Finals MVP award.

Read 5 Championship Drive: Shock Take All the Marbles by Detroit Wonk
Visit the Official Detroit Shock Website

POST SCRIPT: There is a celebration tonight outside the Coleman A. Young Municipal Building on Jefferson Ave., in front of a "specially decorated" Spirit of Detroit statue." according to the Detroit Shock website.
Hat Tip: Girl in the D