Absolute Michigan's Michigan Blog

Absolute Michigan Updates...

2007-04-25T06:10:00.000-04:00

If you're looking for Michigan news, features and photos, you have to head over to Absolute Michigan where we're posting new stuff every day along with tons of links to websites for Michigan businesses and organizations. You're also invited to add a link to your Michigan site.

Michigan is the best state - now let's prove it

2007-02-21T09:42:00.000-05:00

Drift at Sunrise, photo by CaptPiper. That's the assignment given to Mitchell Hirsch (a fifth grader at George G. White Middle School in Hillsdale, NJ). Your mission (should you choose to accept it) is to help Mitchell explain to his classmates and teachers why Michigan is the best state in the CountryGet all the details at Assignment: Why Michigan is the best state in the country on Absolute

Offsetting Carbon Dioxide Emissions

2007-02-08T11:03:00.000-05:00

Ottawa Power Station Photo by MichSt. The Environment Report writes: There's evidence that the Earth is changing because of global warming. Glaciers are receding. Polar ice caps are melting. Weather patterns are altered. That's prompted some people to look for ways to reduce their personal contribution to global warming. Rebecca Williams reports there are many new companies that claim to

Celebrating Ice and Snow!

2007-01-30T10:07:00.000-05:00

Frozen II Photo by Darrin Wassom. It may be time for Super Bowl XLI here in the USA, but in China it's Ice Festival time. Meteorologist Bill Steffen blogged a photo of this amazing festival from 2005.Closer to home, for our neighbors to the north the focus is on Bonhomme and Carnaval de Quebec or the Quebec Winter Carnival. Here's a bit of its history from the official website Since the

2007 Michigan Heart Gallery

2007-01-29T16:57:00.000-05:00

Impact of the Child Photo by Autumm. NOISE PhotoBlog's Jeremy Herliczek highlights one of our favorite programs, the Michigan Heart Gallery. This is the second year for the gallery which premiered at the State Capitol last week and will travel the state. Professional photographers donate their time to create these insightful portaits, that are also available online at Michigan Heart

John Conyers, Jr. speaks out for peace

2007-01-29T14:57:00.000-05:00

Jack Lessenberry talks with John Conyers about his tenure on the House Judiciary Committee as well as his thoughts about the war in Iraq and whether or not President Bush should be impeached. Rep. Conyers has just become the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, after having served for, as Jack puts it, "longer than most people have been

Black History in Michigan

2007-01-24T10:06:00.000-05:00

Mask: Entrance, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History--Detroit MI Photo by pinehurst19475. February is Black History Month but the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit celebrates Black History all year long. According to their website, the museum is the world's largest institution dedicated to the African American experience. The Museum provides

The "Detroit Auto Show"

2007-01-08T17:06:00.000-05:00

Diego Rivera Painting Photo by Mr. History. Jack Lessenberry writes about the upcoming North American International Auto Show:Organizers claim the show provides a glimpse into the automotive future. They say the show also adds more than half a billion dollars annually to the local economy.Jack Lessenberry talks with Sean McAlinden, chief economist for the Center for Automotive Research

Choosing Hunger in Lansing by ypsi~dixit

2006-12-27T16:47:00.000-05:00

While most of us are complaining about too much food over the holidays, Evan in Lansing blogged about living on $30 in food per month in November. I cannot even imagine what that must be like, but there are many who live just that way, month after month.ypsi~dixit writes: (snipped from the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice's newsletter, which is meticulously and expertly scribed by Chuck

Photographic explorations throughout Michigan

2006-12-20T09:19:00.000-05:00

The Shrine of the Little Flower Catholic Church Photo by One Foot Over The Moon. Kitchen Chick shows us another side of her by uploading her Black and White Digital Photography class photos. She writes: I've mentioned in passing that I'm taking photography classes. This past term I took two classes: History of Photography and Black & White Digital Photography. (And worked some 30 hours

Celestial

2006-12-13T09:59:00.000-05:00

star trails 2 Photo by mi_kirk. Meteorologist Bill Steffen writes about the Geminid Meteor Shower that peaks later tonight.The Geminid Meteor Shower peaks late Wednesday Night, Dec. 13-14 (early Thursday AM). It may actually clear out for awhile Weds. night (though as is often the case in December-the low clouds hang until the ridge line makes it overhead and just as they leave, the high

Great Lakes VHS

2006-12-06T11:19:00.000-05:00

Photo by One Foot Over The Moon. The GLRC's Chuck Quirmbach reports: An emerging fish disease known as viral hemorrhagic septicemia, or VHS, has prompted a proposed ban on the use of ballast water in the Great Lakes. ...the proposed ban is leading to predictions of economic disruption:In his commentary yesterday, Jack Lessenberry notes:First it was zebra mussels and a variety of other

Out of the ordinary recycling and other environmentally-friendly Ideas

2006-11-29T10:14:00.000-05:00

"Off the Grid" (Energy sufficiency in Southern Vermont) Photo by roddh. Today, East Lansing Daily photo features a photo of a REUSEASHOE recycling bin. She writes: REUSEASHOE- Recycle old athletic shoes.- Shoes should be dry and not muddy.- NO shoes with spikes, cleats or metal (i.e., eyelets).- NO thongs, sandals, dress shoes, boots or pumps.I was also surprised to see a bin

Cow abduction mystery solved! (just for fun)

2006-11-29T09:38:00.000-05:00

Cow at Sunset Photo by Mr. History. I know the mystery of cow abductions was plaguing you too. Now the truth about the Battlelacticans is revealed!ypsi~dixit writes: YPSIDIXIT'S hat is off to the esteemed Weekly World News, which has finally tracked down the reason for the string of cow abductions it's reported on in recent issues!Read Weekly World News Detects Extraterrestrial Website!

The Road Ahead for Ford and GM by Jack Lessenberry

2006-11-28T16:41:00.000-05:00

On the Road Again Photo by docksidepress. Today, Jack Lessenberry features a conversation with journalist Jerry Flint. Jerry Flint has covered the automotive industry for major publications for more than half a century. These days he's of the opinion that "General Motors and Ford can't compete head to head with Toyota and Honda, not any more." But he thinks they can still survive.Jack

Cherry and Apple Pesticide under fire

2006-11-28T10:50:00.000-05:00

Wild Michigan Cherries Photo by Latitude 45. A pesticide used on nuts, brussel sprouts and nursery stock as well as cherries and apples is being phased out by the EPA; but not quickly enough for some environmental groups and too quickly for growers. GLRC's Bob Allen reports: Azinphos methyl or AZM is the main insecticide used in cherry and apple orchards. The cherry industry has zero

Holiday Traditions, old and new

2006-11-27T12:14:00.000-05:00

Frankenmuth, MI Photo by Ed Roth. Holiday Traditions vary from by home, locale, ethnicity and faith. Here are some to which our Michigan bloggers subscribe:Find The River makes a list of things he's thankful for, including:1. Kristine2. Continued good health (and the insurance to help it continue)3. Steady work that involves minimal supervision and considerable freedom as to how I manage

Giving Thanks in Michigan

2006-11-22T13:58:00.000-05:00

Y. writes: YPSIDIXIT would like to see Michigan Stadium filled to memorialize a low-profile SOS Community Services worker who helped ensure that poor families in Ypsi could together share a hot Thanksgiving dinner this year.The photo is from the Absolute Michigan Pool on Flickr. I chose it because it offers thanks to an early 20th Century conservationist. oakwood writes: Thanks, Mr Leopold for

Great Lakes freighter photos and history

2006-11-21T10:21:00.000-05:00

Lake Freighter Photo by gsgeorge. Great Lakes Freighters are wonderful to watch as they appear to effortlessly navigate the Great Lakes. Enjoy this look at Great Lakes Freighters from Michigan bloggers and photographers.michpics writes: The latest entry into the Small World Files is today's photo of the 100 year old Southdown Challenger upbound on the Detroit River just above the

Improv Everywhere's Operation Best Buy by detroitarts

2006-11-21T09:35:00.000-05:00

Imagine a group of 80 "shoppers" clad in the store uniform (khaki pants and blue shirts), marching into Best Buy. That's what happened in April at a NYC store. detroitarts writes: "Improv Everywhere is a group of agents (pranksters) based in NYC who organize missions (happenings) in public space. Their intent is to bring excitement to otherwise unexciting locales and give strangers a story they

Absolute Michigan's Michigan Blog

2006-11-19T13:19:00.000-05:00

For some time now, this blog has been about the blogs and bloggers of Michigan. Today, we're making it official and renaming it "Absolute Michigan's Michigan Blog". We'll try and keep our list of Michigan blogs up to date and to draw from more of Michigan's blogs, including some of the new video logs. We won't say vlogger though. ;)

Pre-holiday potpourri

2006-11-15T11:44:00.000-05:00

My personal Thanksgiving Photo by rogiro. With the holidays approaching, here are some tips to help make yours a little brighter!Mike Wendland shows readers three ways to make a photo book. He writes: As the holidays approach, a lot of digital photographs will be taken. But what to do with them? Have you thought of making a book? Kitchen Chick has some tasting results to share for

Post-election environmental agenda

2006-11-13T16:26:00.000-05:00

Photo by MdEST. The Environment Report 's Mark Brush looks into the impact mid-term elections may have on the environment. He writes: The political landscape in the US changed overnight this week/last week (election week). The Democratic takeover will mean a big shift in policy-making efforts in Washington.He continues: Tiernan Sittenfeld is the legislative director for the League of

Remembering "Soapy"

2006-11-08T10:35:00.000-05:00

Jack Lessenberry wrote yesterday: By this time tomorrow, we should know who Michigan's next governor is. But one thing is clear. There will never be another Soapy Williams. He was a legend who was elected six consecutive times, evoked strong feelings, and seldom, if ever, took off his signature green polka-dotted bow ties. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry spoke with Thomas Noer. He is the

Fast Food Nation coming soon (or already here)!

2006-11-08T10:00:00.000-05:00

Two hugs and a Kiss Photo by tbonedetroit. Loosely based on the book of the same name by author Eric Schlosser, the movie Fast Food Nation is an inside look at the fast food industry from the meat packing plant to the low paid employees and everything in between. ypsi~dixit writes: YPSIDIXIT is excited to learn that the movie Fast Food Nation is coming out Nov. 17. Check out the ominous