11.03.08
Posted in Business, Education, Michigan, Environment, Jobs, Economy at 11:43 pm by Tim
There is a good chance the winner of Tuesday’s presidential contest will have earned his ticket to the White House in large part to having secured the electoral votes of the Great Lake State. Our two peninsulas benefit not only politicians, they afford individuals and businesses a great opportunity to start and expand their companies. The Michigan Advantage does a splendid job of demonstrating how they can get the “upper hand” by doing so. Thus, I’ve selected it as the Arresting Site of the Month for November.
Detailing Michigan’s strengths in such areas as alternative energy, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing, the site makes the case for our state, touting our skilled workforce, tax benefits, world-class universities, environmental beauty, and more. It’s also filled with helpful links that encourage further exploration. It’s easy to learn how your company can take advantage.
Note: Nominations for December’s site or blog of the month are due on Monday, November 24. I’ll announce the winner in this space on Monday, December 1. Thanks.
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10.30.08
Posted in Politics, Michigan at 10:38 pm by Tim
The big day is Tuesday, so please make sure you have all the information you need to cast your vote in Michigan. I verified that I am registered — it took all of about 12 seconds — and please do so yourself. It’s become a bit of a cliché, but this may well be the most important election of our lifetime. See you at the polls.
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10.06.08
Posted in Business, Arts & Entertainment, Michigan, Jobs, Film at 10:47 pm by Tim
Film productions have been streaming into Michigan since incentive legislation that passed in April made our state Hollywood’s new “it” locale. The sheer logistics of bringing together cast, crew, and support services can be daunting, but there is a splendid resource to help filmmakers share their vision with audiences. “More than a comprehensive directory of Michigan-based production resources,” The Producer’s Guide to Michigan — the creation of industry veterans Peter Mertz and Nick Johnston — offers an array of tools and advice on how and where to find the best sound stages & studios, extras, and more.
Given the seemingly endless reports of bad economic news around the country and around our state, it’s a distinct pleasure to spotlight this job-driving guide as the Arresting Site of the Month for October. Grab a camera and get rolling.
Note: Nominations for November are due on Monday, October 27, and I’ll announce the winner on Monday, November 3. Thanks once again for your interest and your participation.
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09.16.08
Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Music, Michigan, Great Outdoors at 10:29 am by Tim
Recent financial news got you down? The place to share your blues is this Friday, September 19 and Saturday, September 20 in Lansing. The state capitol will host the Old Town BluesFest, a free event packed with acts from around Michigan and the country. Acts (tentatively) include George Bedard & the Kingpins, Madcat & Kane, The Alligators, and more, all of whom you can see and hear while visiting the many food and craft vendors on hand. Dig in.
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09.11.08
Posted in Politics, News, History, Video at 1:38 pm by Tim
It was such a terrible day, and there has been so much written about it in the seven years that have followed. The University of Michigan has assembled a comprehensive set of documents and other resources that detail the attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. on September 11, 2001, the history of terrorism around the globe, and more. It’s difficult to relive the horror of that morning, but BBC News maintains a timeline of events, including video.
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09.05.08
Posted in Education, Family at 4:43 pm by Tim
A rite of passage not only for kids, but also for parents, is the first day of kindergarten. Our daughter Zoë attended her first full day today, and she amazed us with the smooth transition she made from pre-school to this next level. No tears, except for perhaps a quiet sniffle from my wife and I, and up onto the bus our little one went,
in and of itself a change, as we drove her to and from her last school every day. Zoë amazes us more and more with each passing week for many reasons, including the fact she’s so interested in learning and exploring. We’re lucky she’s our child, and look forward to the rest of this milestone year in her life. We can’t wait to hear all about Day One.
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09.01.08
Posted in Business, Education, Michigan, News, Environment, Economy, Travel at 1:09 pm by Tim
It bills itself as “…a partnership that provides one place online for people to find information relating to the binational Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region of North America” and the Great Lakes Information Network consistently achieves that goal, and has been doing so since the early ’90s. I wrote about the Ann Arbor-based GLIN in this space back in March and, given its breadth and depth, I’ve selected it as the ”Arresting Site of the Month” for September. GLIN’s pages focus on the Great Lakes themselves, plus the region’s economy, education, environment, and tourism, and it’s easy to search by state or province, as well as by individual lake.
There also is a section on maps and geographic information systems, where you’ll encounter portals, galleries, and links that offer a swath of further detail. Speaking of the latter, GLIN nominates its own “Site of the Month,” and its extensive archive in this regard dates back to 1996. You can jump in anywhere and be sure to discover facts and figures about the Great Lakes, but a good place to start is the information center. Whether you’ve lived in Michigan or elsewhere around the Great Lakes your entire life, or you’re a recent transplant to this beautiful area, you’re bound to learn something new at GLIN.
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08.28.08
Posted in Sports, Michigan at 9:57 pm by Tim
‘Tis the season…football season, that is. There are many ways to get the scoop on your favorite college gridiron program. Devotees of my alma mater, the University of Michigan, should peruse MGoBlog, bursting with facts and opinions on the Maize ‘n Blue. The aptly named Michigan Sports Center will also keep you update on all the goings-on in Ann Arbor.
In the interests of equal time, followers of the Green and White should head directly to the Michigan State page of fanblogs.com. If you consider yourself a forward-thinking lover of everything East Lansing, then check out The Enlightened Spartan.
Let the rivalry begin anew.
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08.13.08
Posted in Business, Arts & Entertainment, Michigan, Jobs, Film, Detroit at 12:10 pm by Tim
I had my three days in the Hollywood limelight, working as an extra on the set of Whip It (see July 21 post), which stars Ellen Page, Drew Barrymore, Jimmy Fallon, and many others among a top-flight ensemble. I was quite impressed with Ms. Barrymore’s directorial work, especially since it’s her debut behind the lens. She kept the action moving crisply, yet always found time to collaborate on ideas with the cast and crew, and she often (and genuinely) complimented the extras. There also were plenty of laughs on the set, which kept everyone in good spirits, even on the night I worked until after 4 a.m. in the heat of the old Monarch Steel warehouse on Mt. Elliot in Detroit. I’m hoping she returns to the Great Lake State often with her production company, Flower Films, as many area residents made extra money (no pun intended) during the production, and gained valuable experience and insight. Well done.
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08.04.08
Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Music, Michigan, Detroit, Great Outdoors, Family at 3:18 pm by Tim
The 29th installment of one of America’s finest musical gatherings is a Motor City traditon, and a splendid way to mark Labor Day. The Detroit International Jazz Festival will cook and swing on six stages in and around Hart Plaza and Campus Martius Park and, as is tradition, the 2008 lineup boasts stars from near and far. In addition to talented-beyond-their-years high school and university ensembles, stalwarts like Dianne Reeves, Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove, and the peerless Hank Jones will entertain the huge crowds downtown from August 29-September 1, as will ”A Love Supreme: The Philly/Detroit Summit,” which will spotlight these two musical hotbeds. The festival Web site is packed with jazz links, a photo gallery from last year’s event, and more. Get ready to thrill your ears and eyes over four days at an event that brings together longtime jazz lovers and so many others — especially kids, just beginning to experience this magnificent American art form — fittingly set in the heart of a city that continues to play a large role in its ongoing development.
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