Today, on the way home from Grand Rapids, the big city I live about 30 miles from I heard this crazy NPR story - on of all things the City of Grand Rapids or Gr as many of us call it. If you haven't heard the story about how Newsweek (yeah, the magazine!) quoted another source and said it was dying and it riled the city every so slightly so they decided to let the world know that we had talent, and fun too!
In the video are all kinds of local celebrities as well as man pain folks too! So check out the video Roger Ebert says is, "the greatest music video ever made!" ENJOY!
Lip Dub to "Bye Bye Miss American Pie," by Don McLean
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
Adele!
I'm usually not much for popular music these days, but one new singer is making waves in both the pop arena, and some even say she is finding a fit with her music within the jazz realm and I find her voice something fresh in a world of duplicates these days.
Who's the special singer that is hitting all the high notes both in the UK and here in the States? Another one name wonder - Adele.
If you haven't heard her yet you should check her out! I heard her first in a recent NPR interview that was really something else. She's a regular Brit, with an edgy sound that really grabs whether it's with a pounding beat, or a ballad that holds you close. I personally love the grit in her voice that is so gorgeous while being so real too. She's not the rail skinny star, and at the same time goes way beyond what we consider totally beautiful musically.
The NPR interview is a great place to get a taste of her music - check it out! http://www.npr.org/2011/04/18/133687905/adele-tiny-desk-concert
Who's the special singer that is hitting all the high notes both in the UK and here in the States? Another one name wonder - Adele.
If you haven't heard her yet you should check her out! I heard her first in a recent NPR interview that was really something else. She's a regular Brit, with an edgy sound that really grabs whether it's with a pounding beat, or a ballad that holds you close. I personally love the grit in her voice that is so gorgeous while being so real too. She's not the rail skinny star, and at the same time goes way beyond what we consider totally beautiful musically.
The NPR interview is a great place to get a taste of her music - check it out! http://www.npr.org/2011/04/18/133687905/adele-tiny-desk-concert
Thursday, May 26, 2011
A Gorse is a Gorse, of Course, of Course!
Gorse weed, Gorse (Ulex europea) is native to Ireland. According to our Guide on the tour, Joe it’s a noxious weed of deadly beauty. It resists attempts to eliminate it. This thorny plant is not only difficult to handle, but, at certain times of the year, generates within its tissues a natural flammable oil. In 1936, this characteristic all but doomed the tiny town of Bandon, County Cork, Ireland. It is not certain how the fire started, but the Gorse burned furiously and within hours the inferno had consumed 484 of the 500 buildings that made up this small town as well. Much of this weed has finally been controlled by the commercial development that has happened here. It has deprived even this hearty weed of a habitat. Note the small picture taken in the county prior to the fire. The same spot today is covered with pavement, homes and a whole neighborhood, which leaves no room for the weed!
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The funniest thing comes from how my granddaughter and I came to remember the name of the weed which of course gives us the title of this article. I am a connoisseur of sorts when it comes to the old television show theme songs and remember many of them all too well. The lyric I used came from a very old show called "Mr. Ed" (Who was of course a talking horse!), hence my very strange title.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Soccer Grandmoms
We've all heard of the soccer moms that are the driving force today amongst the young and upwardly mobile with children these days. Hey, they were the moving force in the last two presidential elections, right? Well I am a soccer grandmom and I love it! There is no need to be crazy I can just cheer and knit when I want, or get up and follow the action on the field too if I want too.
The best part of being a soccer grnadmom is I can go crazy with the wins and no one cares! This job sure has it's perks!
The best part of being a soccer grnadmom is I can go crazy with the wins and no one cares! This job sure has it's perks!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
No Thank You For a Great W. Michigan Journalist
If you ever doubted that there is age discrimination that ALL the politicians turn a blind eye to look no further than journalistic TV news and your local newspapers. Watch the young perky faces that grace your screen as anchors and reporters and if you haven't seen yet watch the older journalists slowly disappear, most unwilling to go.
Granted, some should because they aren't or often have never been journalists and only readers of what the networks throw at them. But the great news people those who doggedly went after the real news are being dropped like a hot potato everywhere. Our culture of youth has lost any kind of respect for those who have gifts as true journalists, and if I'm honest so many other professions as well.
Today our paper painted the headline the front page with pictures of one of those loses. What bothers me the most is the hue and cry that has gone out for loyalty from companies across the country, but that has to go both ways and this is the age of the employer and the worker is a petty difficult - at best.
The worker is on the decent not only in pay and in jobs, but in importance as the cog in the wheel that makes the product for our country and the world. Why? Because we demanded too much. Sad, since most of us simply want make a living and be able to survive in today's economy.
Granted, some should because they aren't or often have never been journalists and only readers of what the networks throw at them. But the great news people those who doggedly went after the real news are being dropped like a hot potato everywhere. Our culture of youth has lost any kind of respect for those who have gifts as true journalists, and if I'm honest so many other professions as well.
Today our paper painted the headline the front page with pictures of one of those loses. What bothers me the most is the hue and cry that has gone out for loyalty from companies across the country, but that has to go both ways and this is the age of the employer and the worker is a petty difficult - at best.
The worker is on the decent not only in pay and in jobs, but in importance as the cog in the wheel that makes the product for our country and the world. Why? Because we demanded too much. Sad, since most of us simply want make a living and be able to survive in today's economy.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Snow, Snow...
Winter has returned to my little part of the world...I hate snow in the spring. My daffodils are covered with two inches of wet snow and it is so yucky when I am so ready for that spring weather! It certainly was not the surprise that I expected when I got up this morning.
I really got a wonderful taste of spring with my recent trip to Ireland and London a week ago. It was lovely, trees leafing out all over and so many spring flowers, but to revert back to winter when I returned was not exactly what I was looking for when I returned and it is a bit disconcerting.
The old nursery rhyme rant will do here I think, with a bit of a change of course:
Snow, snow, go away,
Blanket us some winter day -
Next Year!!
I really got a wonderful taste of spring with my recent trip to Ireland and London a week ago. It was lovely, trees leafing out all over and so many spring flowers, but to revert back to winter when I returned was not exactly what I was looking for when I returned and it is a bit disconcerting.
The old nursery rhyme rant will do here I think, with a bit of a change of course:
Snow, snow, go away,
Blanket us some winter day -
Next Year!!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Only a Little Rant...
I've learned many things during this year I turned 60. Many important things. I must admit that I try to learn something new often, which can be a challenge that sometimes frustrates me. I keep struggling with the ever changing world of computers - we upgraded to a Mac recently. I had to change how I do things and it was hard at first, but I am so glad to have this internet machine because I am no longer haunted by breakdowns!
I also learned from a belligerent blogger that no one can convince you to their way of believing simply by arguing their point with you. A person recently tried and got very belligerent when they didn't succeed. We all should be respected for our beliefs and not belittled until we give in to another's way of thinking - one convinced against their will remains the same opinion still.
Don't expect people, even friends to echo your own strongly held convictions. We are not clones. We claim to want personal freedoms but only surround ourselves with comfortable people who don't challenge us.
End of rant. :-)
I also learned from a belligerent blogger that no one can convince you to their way of believing simply by arguing their point with you. A person recently tried and got very belligerent when they didn't succeed. We all should be respected for our beliefs and not belittled until we give in to another's way of thinking - one convinced against their will remains the same opinion still.
Don't expect people, even friends to echo your own strongly held convictions. We are not clones. We claim to want personal freedoms but only surround ourselves with comfortable people who don't challenge us.
End of rant. :-)
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