The World as Seen by Lauren

TWaSbL Year in Review: TigerFest 2011

2011-12-16T18:00:00.000-05:00

Out of all the TigerFests I've been to (since the 2006 'fest at Joe Louis Arena, and all five at Comerica Park), this year's TigerFest had to be the coldest one of all. TigerFest was a well attended event, and many in attendance enjoyed the festivities, despite the weather and long lines in many of the autograph and photo lines. THe high points of the Fest were seeing the Tigers (of course) and listening to the Question and Answer sessions. The low points were just waiting in those long lines.

TWaSbL Year in Review: Detroit Auto Show

2011-12-13T13:39:00.000-05:00

The Auto Show is an event not to be missed in Metro Detroit. This year was no exception. The show had many new reveals, as well as old models making a comeback, lke the Buick Regal nameplate. My favorite car at the show were the Smart Cars (one shown above in green is my favorite) My other favorite cars came from the Big Three: Chrysler, Ford and General Motors. People mingled around Cobo during the show, and seemed to enjoy themselves immensely. I look forward to seeing what the 2012 show will offer.

Tiger Fun

2011-09-14T18:30:00.000-04:00

Hey again, everyone. I'm sorry I haven't written in what seems like forever. I needed some time to get myself together and to get some things taken care of, so thanks for being patient. I post this picture today, from September 10, 2011, because my favorite team, the Detroit Tigers, are cruising to a playoff spot. As you all know, I like the Tigers, and enjoy going to see them. The team has been playing very well as of lately, and as of today (September 14, 2011), have a 12 game winning streak! I hope to see the team make a good run to the playoffs and to the World Series. I always put on my Twitter feed that I'm anticipating a #TigerVictoryParade.

YouTube Friday-Anka, Hamilton, & Nash - The Teen Commandments

2011-07-22T19:44:00.000-04:00

Here's an interesting dialogue I first heard on Canadian Radio recently, called "The Teen Commandments" (via oldiesrnow's YouTube Channel). These commandments ring true nowadays. My favorite "Teen Commandment" is the 7th commandment. I think if there were a 2011 edition of this, there would be something on there about text messaging, postings on the internet-mainly Facebook and Twitter-and things of that nature on the song. What would you put on your "Teen Commandments"?

Froggy Day

2011-07-04T20:18:00.000-04:00

Happy Independence Day, TWaSbL-ites! Hope you guys are having a great day. I took a little road trip today to Ohio, and I saw this frog sculpture at the parking structure I was at. I remember when the city had many of these frogs around the downtown area back in 2001. I specifically remember frogs dressed as a prince, a king, and a policeman. I liked the frogs, and they reminded me of the "CarTunes on Parade" here in Detroit during the summer of 2005, and the Tigers in 2007.

YouTube Friday: Charity Brown - Anyway You Want - 1975

2011-07-01T21:12:00.000-04:00

Here's a video of a song I heard on Canadian Radio recently (via vincei2006's YouTube Channel). It's of Charity Brown's song "Anyway You Want". This song isn't that commonly heard here on American radio, but is heard on Canadian Radio and Satellite radio.

YouTube Friday-The Guess Who - Dancin' Fool

2011-06-17T20:46:00.000-04:00

Here is a video of a song I like from The Guess Who. I saw this video on cooldudebailey's YouTube Channel after hearing this song on Canadian Radio. This is one of the Guess Who's many hits. I especially like the cover of the album that's pictured here.

iPad Ads are everywhere

2011-06-14T19:42:00.000-04:00

I've seen these iPad 2 ads around town recently, the first time a few months ago. This isn't the first time an ad has been placed here. There have been ads for mostly TV shows here in the past. The other ad for the iPad 2 was on 1001 Woodward in downtown Detroit. I've seen one of these iPads in the store, and I can see using it for educational or business purposes. If you have an iPad, what do you use it for (business, personal,etc)?

YouTube Friday: YOU BELONG TO THE CITY

2011-06-10T20:28:00.000-04:00

This week's YouTube Friday is of a song I really enjoy. It's from QBAN2010's YouTube Channel. The song is from the old Miami Vice TV show, called "You Belong to the City". I know it screams "Oldies", but I can imagine walking along the street in the '80s while listening to this song and enjoying '80s nightlife and the city scenes.

RIP Jim Northrup (1939-2011)

2011-06-09T19:54:00.000-04:00

I heard during last night's Tiger game that former Tigers outfielder Jim Northrup had passed. He's known for hitting multiple Grand Slams, including a few during the 1968 World Series. He was also a broadcaster on the old Pass Sports network. The picture I'm using here is of Jim Northrup's exhibit at Comerica Park in the "Walk of Fame" exhibit from the '60s.

Come To Me - France Joli (1979)

2011-06-03T21:02:00.000-04:00

Today's YouTube Friday entry is a video from the channel of djbuddyloveoldschool's YouTube Channel. It's of the singer France Joli's song "Come to Me" from 1979. I heard this song on the radio the other day, and it's a danceable song. It still sounds great after 32 years.

Special YouTube Monday: America The Beautiful

2011-05-30T18:10:00.000-04:00

In honor of Memorial Day, I decided to post my YouTube Friday post on Monday. This video is of Ray Charles' version of "America the Beautiful"( via freeyourmind775's YouTube Channel) I'm praying for all the veterans, past, present and future.

Sanders and Yellow Pages, almost 1 year later

2011-05-23T20:44:00.000-04:00

Almost a year to the day, I stopped by the former Sanders Bakery/headquarters and the old Yellow Pages building on the Detroit-Highland Park border to see if anything has changed or remained the same. As I walked down Oakman, I first came upon the old Sanders headquarters. I saw the first few windows removed, and wondered if they may be remodeling or demolishing the building. The Sanders Country Home bakery was once here. The Bell Telephone building is preparing to undergo renovations for housing. This was once the home of the Yellow Pages, and Western Electric in an earlier day. I have family who used to work here way back when, and said that it was a nice place to work at. This building reminds me of the former Hudsons department store in Downtown Detroit which was demolished over 10 years ago in 1998.

YouTube Friday: Joe - Rose in a concrete world (dedicated to Aaliyah)

2011-05-20T20:13:00.000-04:00

For YouTube Friday, I decided to write about a song I like as of recently, called "Rose in a Concrete World"(via JonhMena's YouTube Channel), It was from the "Romeo Must Die" soundtrack, which was released in 1999 or 2000. The late Aaliyah was in this movie. . I had the soundtrack to this movie as a teenager.

Festival Mural

2011-05-17T21:12:00.000-04:00

This picture was taken at the Downtown Hoedown this past weekend. This is a painting of the Hart Plaza festivals, painted over 10 years ago. I like all the festivals represented here, from the Jazz Festival to the African World Festival. As many of you know already, I like attending festivals, both musical and cultural. What are your favorite festivals to attend where you are?

YouTube Friday: Justin Verlander no-hitter vs. Blue Jays - May 7, 2011 - Final Out

2011-05-13T20:39:00.000-04:00

For YouTube Friday, I decided to spotlight Justin Verlander's No Hitter from last weekend (via TheGreatUnknown84's YouTube Channel) I didn't hear much of the game because I was at church. I heard the 9th inning, though, and cheered as I went home. This was Justin's 2nd No Hitter (the first was in June 2007 at home against Milwaukee). A belated TWaSbL Congrats to Justin on his 2nd No-Hitter.

YouTube Friday: The Jackson 5 - Little Bitty Pretty One

2011-05-06T22:24:00.001-04:00

Today for YouTube Friday, I decided to blog about this gem from the Jackson Five, circa 1972 (video via giveintomeMJx3 YouTube Channel) This is a cover of the old song "Little Bitty Pretty One". I like the original as well as this version of the song. What do you all think of this?

Navy League at Mariners'

2011-05-02T21:38:00.000-04:00

As I passed by Mariners' Church this past Saturday, I saw this on the marquee about Navy League Sunday. I was inquisitive about what the Navy League was about, so I checked out their website. They were founded in the early 1900s, and have many programs during the year. They also sponsor the Sea Cadets program for the young people. I hope that the service for the Navy League was very prayerful.

YouTube Friday: The Archbishop of Canterbury on the Royal Wedding

2011-04-29T20:35:00.000-04:00

In commemoration of the Royal Wedding that took place earlier today, here is a video of the Archbishop of Canterbury (via lambethpress' YouTube Channel) sharing his thoughts on the Royal Wedding. Did any of you watch the Royal Wedding today? I watched bits and pieces of it on TV as I got ready to start my day. I liked the bride's dress, with the lace sleeves and full skirt, and the veil complemented the dress nicely.

State Capitol

2011-04-28T20:56:00.000-04:00

Here's a picture I took a couple of weekends ago on a photo walk. It's a small-scale model of the old Michigan Capitol (Detroit was Michigan's capitol before moving west to Lansing). Capitol Park is located on the site of the old Capitol building, and as I mentioned in an earlier post, the Detroit city buses used to stop here before moving to the Rosa Parks Transit Center on Michigan Avenue and Cass in 2009.

YouTube Friday: Were You There When They Crucified My Lord? - Good Friday -

2011-04-22T19:28:00.000-04:00

For Good Friday, I decided to spotlight a religious themed video for YouTube Friday. This video is from TigersLily1103's YouTube page. This is the hymn "Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?". It's sung in many churches during Good Friday services. If you are a Christian and are celebrating this holy day, I wish you a prayerful and reflective day.

Red Wing Post

2011-04-20T19:58:00.000-04:00

Just a quick post in support of my favorite Hockey team, the Detroit Red Wings. This was on top of the Renaissance Center in Downtown Detroit this past weekend. The RenCen had an Olde English D for the Tigers on their home opener. Here's to you, Red Wings! Let's sweep out west!

Gov. Mason

2011-04-19T21:52:00.000-04:00

Here's a picture taken last weekend of Governor Stevens Mason's relocated gravesite in Capitol Park. When Capitol Park was being remodeled, the original grave was dug up, and his remains taken to a local funeral home until the park was finished. It was relocated to this spot, where a commital service with military honors was held. Gov. Mason was in his early 20s when he became governor.

YouTube Friday: B J Thomas Don't Worry Baby

2011-04-15T20:26:00.000-04:00

For YouTube Friday, I decided to post this video, via fujen15's YouTube Channel. This is my favorite version of the Beach Boys classic song, "Don't Worry Baby" I heard this song on Streaming radio. You might know of BJ Thomas' songs "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" and "I Just Can't Help Believing" . I hope you all like this song as much as I do.

YouTube Friday: Rays Slugger Ramirez Tells MLB He's Retiring

2011-04-08T20:20:00.000-04:00

Today's YouTube Friday video is from the Associated Press' YouTube Channel. I heard this story when I got back home from being out and about for the Tigers' Home Opener. While watching ESPN, they said that this all stemmed from a test that occured during Spring Training, which just concluded. What do you all think of this? I remember seeing Manny Ramirez last year when he was with the White Sox, and they were here in Detroit for Labor Day.

YouTube Friday: Born To Be Wild-Dennis Rodman Mix

2011-04-01T20:27:00.000-04:00

The Detroit Pistons are honoring Dennis Rodman tonight by retiring his jersey, so I decided to put up this video (courtesy of antzheng's YouTube Channel. Dennis Rodman has won many NBA Titles with both the Pistons and the Bulls. He was a spectacular player back in the day, and from what I saw on the Pistons game this evening, he'll be heading to the Hall of Fame.

Cass Tech, Past and Present

2011-03-30T19:55:00.001-04:00

Old and New Cass Tech
Originally uploaded by femaletrumpet02

Here's a picture of the "Old" Cass Tech (nearest to the camera) and the "New" Cass Tech (just to the north of the old building.I thought this was an interesting view of the old and the new. I like the old architecture of the old building, as well as the new building.

YouTube Friday: Keane Brothers - Dancin' in the moonlight(1979)

2011-03-25T23:13:00.000-04:00

Today's YouTube Friday (albeit a little later than usual, due to my busy schedule lately) is from tangeyasuaki's YouTube Channel. This video is of the song "Dancing In the Moonlight", originally performed by King Harvest way back when. The Keane Brothers offer their rendition in the late 1970s. I like the beat of this song, which is a then-popular Disco beat. They do a good job with their version.

TWaSbL Thursday

2011-03-24T20:23:00.000-04:00

I saw this ad while waiting at the bus stop this morning. I thought that this was interesting, since Tax season is here. It just mentions that if you worked part or all of last year and made under a certain amount of money, you can get a EITC check in the mail along with your refund. Just decided to add this to TWaSbL today

YouTube Friday: Andy Gibb - Everlasting Love

2011-03-18T21:09:00.000-04:00

The video I decided to share with you all is from the YouTube Channel of JoseAlvarado24. It's of the song "Everlasting Love" by the late Andy Gibb. I heard this song on the radio, and this is a great song with a danceable beat to it. I like hearing the "rarely heard oldies, as you probably know by now. I like listening to the songs of the '70s, '80s and '90s, and even into the early '00s. What are your favorite types of music?

Busing it

2011-03-14T21:59:00.000-04:00

I saw this bus for Tutor Time Child Care center as I was running errands, and I decided to check out their website to see what they were all about, since I've only seen them on a couple of occasions in the past. Tutor time takes care of kids from 6 weeks to 12 years (before/after school care for older kids and day care/preschool for the young ones). The bus shown here reminds me of the vans and buses that used to come to my school as a kid to pick up kids who attended after-school programs.

YouTube Friday: Powerful quake hits Japan

2011-03-11T21:08:00.000-05:00

Today's YouTube Friday is about the Earthquake/Tsunami that hit Japan today. This is from the YouTube Channel of AlJazeeraEnglish. I'm praying for all that are affected in Japan and all over the world.

Imported from Detroit

2011-03-10T20:16:00.000-05:00

I saw this as I was going about town this afternoon, and was passing Chrysler's headquarters in Auburn Hills, MI. The slogan, "Imported from Detroit", was made famous in the ad that was shown during the Super Bowl this year. I hear that they had shirts with the phrase on it that sold quickly. Just wanted to share this with you all.

Picture Bloggin'

2011-03-07T21:10:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the lack of picture so far this year, TWaSbL-ites. I've been going through a lot, and not blogging as much lately. Anywho, Here's a favorite picture of mine so far this year. It was taken shortly after leaving the Detroit auto show this past January . I may have posted this at an earlier date, but I like it so much that I posted it again today. I'm sorry that I'm not blogging in regularity. I'm on a semi-hiatus for now. I'm just trying to get a few things in my personal (offline) life straightened out right now.

YouTube Friday: Frankie Avalon - Bobby Sox To Stockings

2011-03-04T19:03:00.000-05:00

For YouTube Friday, I selected this video that I ran across (via John 1948Five's YouTube Channel) after hearing this on the Canadian Radio station. I thought that this song was pretty neat. It seems that nowadays young ladies are changing from Bobby Sox to Stockings (or from flats to high heels if you prefer) earlier and earlier. Sorry I've been so quiet recently, I've been going through a few things I'd rather not get into online. I'll try to write more in the future.

Might Music be back at Orchestra Hall?

2011-03-01T20:20:00.002-05:00

I heard on the radio this afternoon as I was coming home that the DSO might be back playing without a contract pending a vote by orchestra members. I remember seeing the Musicians union marching in the Labor Day Parade last year, a few weeks before going on strike in early October. I'll say a prayer that something gets worked out.

Downtown Legacy

2011-02-28T20:50:00.000-05:00

I saw this truck for Legacy Magazine as I was taking a walk yesterday. I hadn't heard of Legacy before seeing this truck. It was parked a couple of doors down from a church near mine that had early services. Just wanted to show you all this truck with the magazine because I thought that the setup of the truck was pretty interesting.

YouTube Friday: Detroit Tigers report to Spring Training

2011-02-25T20:39:00.000-05:00

It's time for Spring Training games to begin this weekend, so I decided to post this video, via DetNewsVideo's YouTube Channel. This was from the 2010 Spring Training workouts for my favorite team, the Detroit Tigers. Can't wait for the Home Opener on April 8. Hope your team has a good Spring Training in the Grapefruit League in Florida or the Cactus League in Arizona.

Sun Rising

2011-02-20T20:22:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to share this picture with you all today. This was taken downtown this morning, and I thought that this sunrise was especially beautiful. I like seeing nice sunsets and sunrises. I hope that there are many sunrises as nice as this for you all in your lives. I'm trying to have as many in my life, as well.

YouTube Friday: Orbit Gum Commercial - "Exclamations"

2011-02-18T21:23:00.000-05:00

For YouTube Friday, I decided to share with you all one of my favorite Commercials. It's from Orbit Chewing gum's YouTube page at orbitgumvideo. I always think to myself as I see these commercials on TV "I want to be the Orbit Girl when I grow up!" I like Orbit's catchphrase, "Dirty Mouth? Clean it up with Orbit!" I chew Orbit gum regularly, with my favorite flavors being Bubblemint, Tropical Remix and Perfect Peach.;

Don't be an Asterisk

2011-02-17T19:54:00.001-05:00

I saw this ad in the mall for the "Don't Be an Asterisk" campaign from the US Olympic team and the Ad Council. It's point is to dissuade kids and teenagers from taking steroids. Many people see that some professional athletes that are now out of their respective sports used steroids at one time, when it was deemed illegal, and some think it's okay to use them. In other words, This site tells you not to use them because of their un-helpful benefits.

Spring Training is here!

2011-02-16T20:48:00.000-05:00

As many of you already know, Spring training started with Pitchers and Catchers reporting to their respective Spring homes in Florida and Arizona this past weekend. I'm feeling excited, as you already know, about my Tigers. Lakeland, Florida has been teeming with Tigers and their fans, especially the ones who frequent Spring training each year. Us Tiger fans are a loyal Bunch of fans, as are fans of all Sports teams around the country and world. Here's to a great Spring and a great baseball season coming up!

Sliding in to the Winter Blast

2011-02-14T20:57:00.000-05:00

The Winter Blast was this past weekend, and it really was a fun event, as it usually is. The Snow Slide made a comeback this year, after being absent for the past few years because of finances over the past couiple of years. There was an area with rides for the kids, as well as the concerts and free ice skating at the Campus Martius Park. I enjoyed hearing the music from the bands and singers that performed. Everyone seemed to have a great time and enjoyed themselves.

YouTube Friday: Dionne Quintuplet Opens Flower Shop

2011-02-11T20:38:00.000-05:00

I found this video on YouTube this week as I was cruising around looking for some interesting videos. This video is from mediaarchivecanada's YouTube Channel. This shows the opening of "Salon Emilie", the flower shop, or "Fleuriste" opened by Marie Dionne, one of the Dionne Quintuplets. She named the shop after her late sister, who passed in 1954. Marie was the youngest of the quints. The shop only lasted a few years before closing up. I think that the shop could have prospered if Marie would have had a little business training.

Shuttling to Wal-Mart

2011-02-10T19:51:00.000-05:00

I saw this Walmart Shuttlle while I was Riding the bus yesterday, and I wondere which Walmart this one goes to. I've searched the internet for the shuttles, and a lot of them go to and from college campuses, taking students on Wal-Mart runs. For my Detroiters, especially those who reside downtown, Have you taken the Wal-Mart Shuttle? If you have, which one does this one go to?

Mini Delta

2011-02-08T20:37:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to show you a picture of the Delta Airlines Mini that was displayed in the lobby of Cobo during the Detroit Auto Show. I thought this was pretty cool with the airplane motif. This reminds me of those Red Bull cars that you may have seen around that looks like it has a giant can of Red Bull on the back of the car. How else have you seen a car in a special design (Sports teams, stores, local businesses, etc).

Gotham Hotel Articles

2011-02-07T20:40:00.002-05:00

I was reading an article this morning on the Detroit News about the old Gotham Hotel, which was one of the best Black-Owned and operated hotels in Detroit back in the days, mainly from the 20's to the '50s. Many people went here to stay if they were in from out of town, and many lived here as residents, as well. I've heard of many newlyweds spending their honeymoons here, as well. THe Hotel closed and was demolished in the early 1960s. I would have liked to have been there to see this hotel in its heyday in the 1930s and 1940s, to mingle amongst the guests and patrons, and also to be part of the staff of this hotel.

YouTube Friday: Gino Vannelli - Love Of My Life.wmv

2011-02-04T20:16:00.000-05:00

For today's YouTube Friday, I decided to write about a new favorite song. It's called "Love of my Life" by Gino Vannelli (video from jansonic66's YouTube Channel). I heard this song yesterday as I was out running errands, and it caught my attention with its catchy beat and nice lyrics. Gino Vannelli is one of my favorite artists. Hope you all like this song, too

To all my young TWaSbL readers

2011-02-03T20:44:00.000-05:00

I saw this video on YouTube the other day (via Ramkin5674's YouTube channel), and it made me think about this show on TV about some homeless teens and young people who made their homes on the street, sleeping on subway trains at night to stay warm, etc. For all my young readers of TWaSbL, I want you all to know that I care about you, and if you are thinking about running away because of troubles at home, don't do it. You'd just be running away from one set of problems and into a whole different set of problems. If you feel like you want to run away, call the National Runaway Switchboard, and they'll direct you to some help.

Day and Nite Comparisons

2011-02-02T19:52:00.000-05:00

I noticed these two pictures as I looked for some pictures to use in today's TWaSbL entry. These were taken from Greektown on different days, and I noticed how interesting the area looks all lit up, and how it looks during the day. Juvenile Court is in the foreground, and Ford Field is seen on the left side of both pictures. I'm so used to seeing Lions tailgaters enjoying themselves in that parking lot on the south side of Gratiot , which is running diagonally in this picture, on game days.

Snowy days

2011-02-01T20:52:00.000-05:00

Most of the country is being hit with a Blizzard in many parts, including here in Detroit. Many other areas are experiencing ice and/or thunderstorms, as well. The weathercasters say that the Detroit area will be hit with more than a foot of snow in some parts of the area. All the snow made me think of the snowstorm that hit on my birthday in January of 1999. This picture from TigerFest was the only picture I could find where a good amount of snow is visible. I'm hoping that you all will be safe if you have to venture out in the snow and ice to get somewhere,

Praying for Egypt

2011-01-31T20:49:00.002-05:00

I'm praying for everyone over in Egypt during this troubled times that they're going through. As many of you know, the Egyptian people are protesting the government, which has been in power for 30 years now, and they're trying to get some new leadership in place and force their current leader out of office. I pray that the Egyptian people will find peaceful ways to voice their opinions on the government.

Tiger Truck '11

2011-01-30T21:05:00.000-05:00

I saw this picture of the WYCD van going past the Comerica Park Tiger as I was looking through my TigerFest pictures. It looks like the Tiger is about to pounce here, and the truck is just getting away. WYCD was at TigerFest handing out freebies to attendees. They also host the Downtown Hoedown in May down at Hart Plaza. Just thought I'd share this pic with you all.

YouTube FridaySpace shuttle Challenger explosion CBS Evening News

2011-01-28T20:10:00.000-05:00

Today's edition of YouTube Friday is in memory of the astronauts who lost their lives in the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion that occured 25 years ago today, on January 28, 1986. I found this video on 10TVMan's YouTube Channel. Many people still remember where they were when they saw or heard about the explosion. I had just turned 2 years old a few weeks earlier, and really don't remember when this happened, but members of my family do. I remember seeing something on the news about this on the 10 year and 20 year remembrances in 1996 and 2006. I pray for their families today and always.

Smart Cars

2011-01-26T22:09:00.000-05:00

Here's a picture of another of my favorite cars from the Detroit Auto Show. Smart Cars are small, yet they're pretty nifty, in my opinion. I've seen a few of them cruising around the Metro Detroit area, and thought about how small and compact they are. They look like little toy cars, but I'm guessing they drive well and are pretty cheap to purchase. If you have a Mini, how do you enjoy your car?

Buses in the world

2011-01-25T22:07:00.000-05:00

Here is a picture I took from the Detroit People Mover a few weeks ago. These two buses, a DOT bus on the left (City Bus) and a Smart Bus on the right (suburban) , were waiting at the stop light at Grand Circus Park in downtown Detroit on a cold winter's morning. I like how this picture turned out, it looks like the buses are just sitting there while the whole world moves around them. The DOT goes through the city and in some suburbs, and the Smart Bus mainly goes through the suburbs of Detroit.

TigerFest Memories

2011-01-24T21:34:00.000-05:00

Here are some pictures from TIgerFest that I'd like to share with you, the readers of TWaSbL. The first picture I'd like to share is of the TigerFest Ice Sculpture. The Ice sculpture is always a popular photo op for people to take photos with as they meander around the stadium. I like the Tiger on the side there growling. His twin brother is outside of the shot.
This batch of Tiger Memories was located in the Archive Room. This is from the 1968 campaign, when the Tigers won the World Series. A picture of the 1972 ALCS team is on display, as well. Many other items and memories were on display, as well.
I took a tour through the Tiger Clubhouse, along with many other fans that were in attendance. The Tigers have very nice digs, and have a lot of room to move around. They also have many TVs and other amenities there.
Here is a picture of Bill Freehan, who was the Tigers catcher from the early 1960s to 1976. This is located in the Tiger Club, where an autograph area was located. He was a member of the Tigers for the 1968 season, when the team won the World Series. He's in a famous picture where he and Mickey Lolich are celebrating the Tigers Championship.

TigerFest 2011 Blog

2011-01-23T21:04:00.000-05:00

I attended TigerFest yesterday, and had a good yet Cold time. TigerFest is the annual Fan Festival for the Tigers. It has been sold out since 2007, its first year at Comerica Park. This picture was taken after I got to Comerica Park after Breakfast. My favorite parts of TigerFest were the pictures and the autographs. I also enjoyed the informative and entertaining Question and answer sessions. Despite the cold weather (it was in the single digits in the morning, and windchills were sub zero), everyone there seemed to have a great time. People patiently waited in lines for the autographs and photos with players (sometimes patience was in short supply). One of the points I'd like to see changed for next year's 'Fest is the wait for lines. There were long lines in excess of an hour or so. 2010 was an example of swift ines and short waits in line. That's the only gripe I have about TigerFest this year.

YouTube Friday: Detroit Tigers Winter Caravan

2011-01-21T20:33:00.000-05:00

The Tigers have been on their annual Winter Caravan the past couple od days, and they've been to many places around the metro area and statewide. One of the places that they visited was the Detroit Institute of Arts. This video is from their YouTube Channel, located at DetroitInstituteArts. . They visited one of the exhibits and had their picture taken in front of the Diego Rivera Mural. As many of my friends and family members know, I'm nutty for the Tigers, and can't wait for Baseball season to start again :-D

Beautiful Sign

2011-01-20T19:59:00.000-05:00

I saw this as I was on my daily travels this morning. I always like seeing the special marquees on the Fox Theatre, and also on the Fillmore, which is just south of here. There was one last week for a party for the Auto Show charity preview, and I noticed the title of the party, "Oh What a Night". I don't know who was hosting the party, but it was a cool title.

TWaSbL Favorites from the Auto Show: Chrysler/Jeep/Ram

2011-01-18T21:06:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite exhibits from the Auto Show was the Chrysler/Jeep/Ram exhibit. It's always been one of my favorites. I like the quality and workmanship of their cars. The Jeep Wrangler-Black ops edition was a popular car, and many people took pictures with it. One of the cars that caught my eye was this Challenger. The Challenger isn't a new nameplate (it was around in the 1970s), but it's sporty and pretty cool. I've seen a few of these on the road over the past year, and they seem like they drive pretty neat. The safety features are pretty cool, as well.

Auto Show Sneak peek

2011-01-17T21:11:00.000-05:00

Here is a sneak Peek of one of my pictures from my trip to the Auto Show today. It was a good time, and I enjoyed seeing all the cars there at Cobo. My favorite cars are from the "Big Three" Automakers of Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors, as well as from Mini and Fiat. This Ferrari was a cool car, as were all the expensive cars. I'll make sure to post more later. In the meantime, enjoy looking at this yellow car :-D

Photo of the Day: Skyliner

2011-01-16T19:24:00.000-05:00

Here is one of my famous (or infamous, take your pick) Skyline shots from the Detroit People Mover. This is a pretty cool picture that I especially like, because it shows all the buildings of Downtown Detroit from near Joe Louis Arena, which is right near here.The ad on the building in the center of the picture is for Mercedes Benz. It's for the Auto Show, which got underway yesterday. There are many trucks located at the Cobo Docks for all the cars and exhibits.

Photo of the Day: Ouzo Cruizo

2011-01-15T20:25:00.000-05:00

The Photo of the Day is of the World Famous Ouzo Cruizo, the ride of Greektown, USA :-D. The Ouzo Cruizo goes through Greektown, a section of Downtown Detroit, for most if not all major downtown events, including Lions, Tigers, and Red Wings games. Tonight, it was fairly busy for the Kid Rock show at Ford Field and the Red Wings game at Joe Louis Arena. I rode the Shuttle a couple of times, and it was a good ride. I always like seeing it on my travels downtown, especially on game/event days.

YouTube Friday:2010 Detroit Auto Show - NAIAS Highlights by Inside Line

2011-01-14T20:04:00.000-05:00

In honor of the 2011 Detroit Auto Show starting tomorrow, I decided to post a video that has a short preview of the 2010 show. This video is from InsideLineVideo's YouTube Channel. I'll be attending the show during its run downtown, and I'll make sure to give you a synopsis and what my favorite cars were.

Photo of the Day: Many Octopi

2011-01-12T20:29:00.000-05:00

Here's another entry in my Photo of the Day Series. This was taken at the Cobo Center People Mover station. It's for the Prius cars. I blogged about this the other day, but this is a new picture that I thought was pretty cool. It reminds me of "Al", the Red Wings Octopus. It made me think "Maybe Al has some friends over for a party". Just wanted to show this to you all today.

Photo of the Day, 1/11/11

2011-01-11T20:28:00.000-05:00

The photo I selected to feature here on TWaSbL was taken from the Opera House garage this morning. The Detroit People Mover is scooting along to the Broadway station. The People Mover has been running early so far this week for Auto Show Preview week, leading up to the public show, which will be opening on Saturday morning. It'll be running later and earlier in the very near future with concerts, events, the Auto Show and much more going on downtown. I'm excited to see all that's happening downtown and in the metro area, as well.

Auto Show Time '11

2011-01-10T20:23:00.000-05:00

It's Auto Show time again in the Metro Detroit Area. I stopped by Cobo to take in the atmosphere in the lobby area for the Press Preview today. There were many members of the media congregating out in this area before they went into the show to observe and critique the show as well as view the unveilings. I saw these two ads that are pictured here as I was doing a few things today. The Top ad is for Mercedes Benz. It was located on the old Pontchartrain Hotel, which is located across Washington Boulevard from Cobo, and people can see it as they arrive and depart the Auto Show. THe bottom picture is an ad from Toyota on the turnstiles for the Detroit People Mover. It talks about the Prius going plural, and what you could call it. I thought that it was neat how they had this set up :-D I'll make sure to share some more pictures with you as I go about town.

Sadness in Arizona

2011-01-08T19:14:00.002-05:00

Today, as you all have probably heard already, a shooting occured in Tuscon, Arizona. Many politicians are expressing their sadness and offering their condolences today (story via the Los Angeles Times). They found out that a 22-year-old had done the shooting, and that he had some troubling posts on his Facebook and YouTube pages. I pray that all the people that are in the hospital are getting the care that they need, and that the families of those affected receive the prayers of the nation.

YouTube Friday: ATC - All Around The World (la la la la la la la la)

2011-01-07T19:07:00.000-05:00

For the first YouTube Friday of 2011, I decided to post this gem from 2000, via TexBoyToy's YouTube Channel. This is a pretty interesting song that was from the group ATC. It was one of my favorite songs way back when, and This is the first time I get to see the video. Hope you find this danceable song to be one of your favorites, as well.

A terrible Hoax

2011-01-05T22:08:00.003-05:00

Just read this article about the hoax involving Vaccines leading to Autism in USA Today. Many people are understandably upset about this, and some wonder why someone would do this. I feel the same way. I don't know why someone would want to lie and say such things. I feel that all kids should get vaccinated because someone could get dangerously sick if they came down with something like Rubella (German Measles), Mumps, Diptheria, etc. I understand a lot of parents were scared and upset when this hoax came out because they thought that their child or children would develop Autism after getting their normal childhood shots. What do you all think of this?

Roster of Hudsonians

2011-01-04T19:42:00.000-05:00

This plaque is one I found interesting. It's located near Macy's at Northand Mall here in the Metro Detroit area. This plaque lists the JL Hudsons department store employees, or "Hudsonians", as they were called, that were in World War II. There are stars by a few names, and I guess that the star signifies those employees who passed during the war. This plaque was originally located at Hudson's downtown Detroit store, and relocated to the Northland Location at a later date. I think that this is a pretty interesting plaque, in that it honors all the Hudsons employees that were in World War II. What do you all think of it?

New week of new year

2011-01-03T19:54:00.002-05:00

Lots to get to today here on TWaSbL. Sorry I didn't write yesterday. It was my birthday, and I was out celebrating. As many of my Michigan readers may know, we inaugurated a new Governor on Saturday afternoon in Lansing. I hope that Gov. Snyder brings a lot of great ideas and changes to the state for the next four years. Also, I've noticed on the news that a large contingent of freshman members of Congress and the House of Representatives are in Washington DC getting ready to go to work for their states. I pray that the US Government will be increasingly pro-life in the future, as well as all state governments. I won't have a photo blog up until at least after the Auto Show in a couple of weeks, so just bear with me there.

New Year '11 blogging

2011-01-01T20:06:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year to all of my readers! I'm glad we all got to the new year okay and in one piece. Today, the NHL's Winter Classic is being played at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. This event has been going on for the past few years now, and always draws big crowds. I enjoy seeing where the event will be held, and seeing an ice rink in the middle of an outdoor baseball/football stadium. THe Red Wings were in the Winter Classic in 2009. I always wonder if Comerica Park could host a Winter Classic in the future. We'll see about that. How has your New Year been so far? I hope 2011 will be a great year for you, and will have lots of new opportunities.
Lauren

New Year's YouTube Friday: Auld Lang Syne

2010-12-31T19:29:00.000-05:00

This is a special YouTube Friday for New Years. I decided to add Kenny G's version of Auld Lang Syne (commonly Known as The New Years Song) as today's selection, courtesy of Mezzogal's YouTube Channel. I hope you all enjoyed reading my blog entries this year, as well as seeing all the pictures from different parts of town,different events, and the YouTube Friday entries of different things I noticed on YouTube this year. Hope your new year is off to a prosperous start. Also, don't be afraid to comment on my entries (just keep them clean and sanitary!), and offer new ideas of things I should put here on my blog. Happy New Year from TWaSbL to you!

Year in Review: Frozen Four 2010

2010-12-29T20:32:00.000-05:00

The Frozen Four collegiate Hockey Tournament came to Detroit in April, and many hockey fans came into downtown to experience the action at Ford Field. There was a FanFest at the RenCen and there were many fans in and around the area taking in the sights and scenes, and even a Tigers game (the Tigers were having their first weekend home series from April 9-11). I hope to see more major sports tournaments, both at the professional and collegiate levels, in the next few years. What are your favorite sports to see played in tournament fashion? I like seeing Baseball and Hockey.

Year in Review: Thanksgiving Day Parade

2010-12-28T19:52:00.000-05:00

The Thanksgiving Parade is always a great event to attend. The whole community either watches on TV or lines Woodward between Mack and the downtown area. The Turkey Trot races usually occur before the parade. The Turkey Trot is a marathon-style race through the streets of Downtown Detroit before the parade. My favorite float in the parade was this one for Ford, with its car and the sun. My favorite balloon was the Uncle Sam Balloon, sponsored by the Detroit News. It's always a popular one, and Uncle Sam always has his permanent smile on :-D. The Big Heads are another of my favorite sites in the parade. This lion and the Tiger "Big Heads" are my favorites, but I like them all.

YouTube Friday: Manheim Steamroller- God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman

2010-12-24T19:03:00.000-05:00

In Honor of Christmas, Today's YouTube Friday segment is a christmas song perfomed by Mannheim Steamroller, from OSUISCOOL's YouTube Channel. I like this version of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen". I probably won't write in TWaSbL tomorrow in honor of Christmas, so I just want to wish you all a great holiday.

Year in Review: Veterans Day Parade

2010-12-23T19:24:00.000-05:00

The Veterans Day Parade occured on November 6 this year. The Detroit Veterans Day parade was formerly one of the largest parades in the country honoring veterans from all different branches of the Armed Services and vets from different wars. I talked with my Dad about the parade, and he remembered the parade being pretty huge back in the 1950s, with many recent World War II and Korean War veterans, and probably some World War 1 and Spanish-American War vets then, as well.. The Parade was stopped in the mid 1970s, and was continued again in the last decade. This was my 2nd year going to the Parade, and it was nice to see all the veterans marching in the parade this year from all over the metro area. I'd like to see more people attend this event in the future to see all the veterans.

Year in Review: Labor Day Parade

2010-12-22T19:46:00.000-05:00

Labor Day held many events in the Downtown Area: The Jazz Festival, the Tigers/White Sox game, and the Labor Day Parade on Woodward, whose pictures are shown here. Many local unions marched in the parade, from Auto Unions, to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Musicians union (shown here), who are still in the middle of a strike with the management of the DSO. There were also bands, and other organizations in the parade this year. The union presence that is in the parade is always a large one. Detroit has always had a large union presence, with the auto unions having the most coverage.

Year in Review: Detroit Jazz Festival

2010-12-21T20:58:00.000-05:00

The Detroit Jazz Festival is a yearly event held during Labor Day Weekend that has ben going on for over 30 years. It always has the best in Jazz music, and many guest artists come to perform. From what I hear, it's the largest free Jazz Festival in the nation. This year's festival was amazing, with many student jazz bands, and many other professional Jazz musicians and bands. There were also some tap dancers there to dance at the festival. I enjoy listening to Jazz, and it's become one of my favorite Genres of Music. Many people come from all over the country and the world to experience the festival, and they all seem to have a great time.

Year in Review: Detroit Back-To-School Parade

2010-12-20T20:13:00.000-05:00

The Back To School parade is a relatively new event in the city. It started in 2009 as a way to help register and motivate students for the new school year. This year's parade was on August 26, 2010, and stretched down Woodward from Grand Circus Park to Hart Plaza, where a Rally took place with singers and motivational speakers. I enjoyed seeing all the different schools and community resources that turned out for the parade. Many onlookers lined Woodward to see the Parade and what all was going down along Woodward. The Spirit of Detroit was even outfitted with a new T-shirt for the occasion, which was worn until school started in September. The blue "I'm In" truck ventured into neighborhoods to register new students that may have been lost to Suburban, private, religious, or charter schools in neighboring communities. I think that the Back-To-School Parade will have more people out there in the future.

Year in Review: Woodward Dream Cruise

2010-12-19T18:44:00.000-05:00

The Woodward Dream Cruise is an annual event that has been taking place since 1994 in the metro area. It usually goes from Ferndale on the south end to Pontiac on the north end. This was my first year attending the event, and I enjoyed seeing all the cars and other classic vehicles out and about cruising Woodward. This bus and car were two of my favorites in the Cruise. I remember hearing about the cops having to clear Woodward a few years ago because people were hanging around Woodward until the wee hours of the morning the week before the cruise. Otherwise, it's a good turnout each year, and people enjoy seeing all the cars from years past and present, as well.

Year in Review: Ribs and Soul Fest/Lions Open Practice

2010-12-18T19:29:00.000-05:00

This summer seemed to be the summer of festivals, with the Ribs 'n' Soul festival occuring this past August. There was a lot of good music and fun, and also lots of wares being sold there, as well. I enjoyed hearing the music and also seeing all the people there. Later on in the day, after having a delicious lunch, I went up to Ford Field to see the Lions at their open practice. Many fans attended this event to get autographs from the players and from "Roary", the Lions Mascot, and to see the Lions practice and run through drills at their home field. They usually practice in Allen Park, a Detroit Suburb, but they practice at Ford Field once or twice during the training camp period. It's good to see the Lions doing this for their fans.

YouTube Friday: Avon Commercial: Face of the Eighties (1982)

2010-12-17T20:12:00.000-05:00

For YouTube Friday today, I ran across this ad for Avon cosmetics from the early 1980s, via JadoreLulu's YouTube Channel. I get a kick out of seeing many of the old ads for companies that are still around and for others that are no longer in business. I remember a neighbor of my grandmother selling Avon way back when, and I also remember seeing some Avon/Mark catalogues being left by Avon reps in various places (school, Doctor's offices, on the bus, etc). I thought you all might get a kick out of seeing some "Ol' School" ads

Year in Review: Independence Day "Staycation"

2010-12-16T21:18:00.000-05:00

I took a staycation this year during the Independence Day weekend to the Henry Ford Museum to take a look at some history. It's always a good time to go see the historic artifacts at the museum, such as this antique school bus, and artifacts from the past. I liked seeing all the old cars, and moments from the past. Many people come to "The Henry Ford" and Greenfield Village at all times of the year to experience life from a bygone era, and to take in one of the state's cultural gems. Many people also go to the IMAX theatre to see movies, as well.

Year in Review: River Days 2010

2010-12-15T20:09:00.000-05:00

River Days has been going on along the Detroit Riverfront for the past few years now. It's an event to showcase the riverfront and the new developments along the river. This event, along with a riverfront festival across the river in Windsor, lead up to the Freedom Festival Fireworks, which are over 50 years old. It's always a great time participating in all the events during River Days. My favorite event is the Diamond Jack Cruise and listening to the choirs, bands and other entertainers performing for the crowd. I also liked the USCGC Bristol Bay, which was docked at the RenCen so people could take a tour of a Coast Guard Cutter.

Year in Review-Near Perfect game: the day after

2010-12-14T20:50:00.000-05:00

The beginning of June bought with it a rare, yet seemingly common occurence. On June 2, 2010, Armando Galarraga, a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, took a bid for a perfect game (which would have been the first perfect game in Tiger History) into the bottom of the ninth inning. In what would have been the 27th out and would have sealed the Perfect game, Jim Joyce, the umpire at First base at the time, called the runner safe. The scene at Comerica Park was of shock, utter disbelief, and from some fans, outrage. Some fans were very livid, and started directing their anger towards the umpire. I saw the game on Television that night, and was pretty shocked myself at first, but then realized a few mintues later that it was a mistake, and forgave the umpire. I attended the game on June 3, 2010, the day after this all transpired.
Before the game, Armando Galarraga was presented with a 2010 Chevrolet Corvette for his class and Sportsmanship amidst all that went down the night before. I think he handled it all as a professional and a gentleman. Six months after the fact, this still holds true.

Year in Review: Techno Festival 2010

2010-12-13T19:15:00.000-05:00

The Techno Festival celebrated a decade here at Hart Plaza this Memorial Day weekend. It started as a free festival in 2000, but started charging in either 2004 or 2005 . They changed names, as well. It was previously known as "Fuse-In" and DEMF (Detroit Electronic Music Festival), as well as Movement a few times. From what I heard, the charge was for the upkeep of Hart Plaza during the festival, and that the city would be paid for it. The price seems to be going up and up since then, but I digress. There are numerous acts there that perform, and many people show up from around the world to dance and listen to good music. My favorite kind of electronica is Drum 'n' Bass. It's good to dance around to, and is an interesting mix, too. Many people usually show up for this festival. I'd recommend this festival, as well, and I just hope that the organizers would consider dropping or eliminating the charge altogether for both one -day and weekend passes.

Year in Review: Downtown Hoedown 2010

2010-12-12T20:43:00.000-05:00

The Downtown Hoedown is one of my favorite festivals of the year.I've been going to this festival since 2003, when I was 19, and looking for something fun to do on a Saturday. I enjoyed seeing all the Music acts, as well as people in their western wear and selling different things at Hart Plaza (Cowboy hats and boots, belts and belt buckles, etc). There was even some folks line dancing out there. Country music is one of my favorite genres of music, besides Pop, Rock, Electronic, and Jazz. I took a picture of this sign as I was leaving the hoedown at about 3 PM to go get some lunch (tip to the new festival goer: the food is usually expensive, so if you can, find somewhere cheap to eat). I'd recommend the Hoedown to anyone in town looking for a good time in mid-May.

YouTube Friday: 'Snowmageddon' hits Washington area

2010-12-10T22:10:00.000-05:00

Since there's a snowstorm coming to the Metro Detroit area over the coming weekend, I decided to post this video from AlJazeeraEnglish's YouTube Channel. It's about the snowstorm earlier this year in the Washington, DC Area, dubbed "Snowmageddon" by many. I hope the snow has been good to you if there is already some on the ground where you are.

Year in Review: Losses of Tiger Greats

2010-12-09T20:34:00.000-05:00

This year, we lost two of the most popular figures in Tiger/Michigan History. We lost Ernie Harwell, whose statue is pictured here in today's Year in Review entry, on May 4, and we lost "Sparky" Anderson, who passed last month, on November 4. Many people have fond memories of the both of them, especially of the roles they played in their lives of many people across the country, especially the Metro Detroit area. Ernie Harwell broadcast for the Tigers for 42 years, from 1960-2002, with the exception of 1991, when he was fired, which was an unpopular move by the Tigers front office. People got angry and started boycotting the Tigers and Domino's Pizza (this is back when the original owner of Domino's owned the Tigers), until the Tigers re-hired him before the 1992 season. Sparky Anderson was the manager of the Tigers from 1979-1995, and led the Tigers to the 1984 World Series and the 1987 playoffs, as well as managing the Cincinnati Reds from 1970-1978, including back-to-back World Series championships in 1975 and 1976. He founded the charity CATCH for kids at Childrens' and Henry Ford Hospitals here in Detroit back in the '80s. I read somewhere on the internet or in a book that he got the nickname "Sparky" (his real name was George) after arguing with the umpires during games when he was a player back in the days. Both Ernie Harwell and Sparky Anderson will be missed amongst all Tiger fans, wherever they may be.

Year in Review: Tigers Home Opener

2010-12-08T19:06:00.000-05:00

The time of year all baseball fans anxiously await arrived on April 9 of this year. The Tigers Home Opener is always a big event around Detroit and the metro area. Many folks call in from work to go to to the game and various other festivities celebrating the return of Tiger Baseball to Detroit. The bars, clubs, and pubs downtown open about 7-9 AM to accomodate the crowds that show up for the day. I've been going to the party at the Fillmore the past few years (no cover at this party). The Grand Circus Park Block Party made a return this year after being absent from the scene since 2007.They have different concerts and entertainment at this party, as well as food, drinks, and a game viewing party, as well.

Year in Review: Motown Winter Blast

2010-12-06T19:40:00.000-05:00

The Detroit Winter Blast was held this past February, where free Ice Skating always occurs, and the winter is celebrated. The Winter Blast started as an event surrounding the 2006 Super Bowl, which was held in Detroit. It proved popular even after the Super Bowl left town. I enjoy seeing all the concerts there, and also the ice skating exhibitions and demonstrations at the Campus Martius ice rink. This year was a pretty good year. Many people showed up for the entire weekend (Friday-Sunday), which is usually the case. I hope the 2011 Winter Blast will be great.

Year in Review: TigerFest 2010

2010-12-04T20:52:00.000-05:00

Here's a picture that I took at TigerFest back in January of this year. TigerFest is the annual Fan festival for the Tigers. It was a cold day for the event, but everyone enjoyed (and behaved) themselves. People could get autographs and pictures from their favorite Tigers, listen to the "Tiger Town" Radio show, and participate in a "Fan Conference" Q and A Session with the Tigers. They also had an area for the young Tigers and Tigresses, where they had kid-friendly stuff and a "Kids only" autograph line. I hope that the Tigers consider making TigerFest into a weekend instead of just one day. I say this because people can come one day or all three days, and won't feel rushed or intimidated by the long lines in a certain area. Another area I think that they can improve on is getting the lines to move better, and have people that have already received autographed to move along to another area if they seem to stay there the whole time, because when I went through a few of the lines this year, I had to ask "Are you in line?" in some areas (and some people had to mention to others "I'm not in line, I'm just waiting"), because people waited in the corners for the next Tiger player or coach to show up and sign autographs or take pictures with the fans. This ice sculpture was really nice. I like the two Tigers on the side there, because they remind me of the Tigers on the Witherell entrance of Comerica Park, as well as the Tigers on the scoreboard.

YouTube Friday: Jewish Traditions : How to Light the Menorah

2010-12-03T19:04:00.000-05:00

In Honor of Hanukkah, which is in its third night tonight, I decided to post a video about lighting the Menorah. This video is from the eHow YouTube channel. Hanukkah, or Chanukah as it's called at times, is a holiday that remembers the dedication of a temple after a war in the 160's BC (more info on the holiday on the Judaism About.com page). I remember when my school district used to get out for Jewish Holidays in the late 1980s-early 1990s, when there was still a pretty good number of Jewish students. Around 2nd grade or so, we got out for Christian holidays, and Jewish students and staff members could take a personal day off for religious observances.

Year In Review: Autos for All

2010-12-02T19:59:00.000-05:00

I'll start my year in review today, since the end of the year is here already. The picture I post for today's entry is from the 2010 Detroit Auto Show back in January. The Auto Industry has taken a hit in the past year, but the "Big Three" automakers are showing signs of coming back and making a profit while they're at it. General Motors and Chrysler are really coming back after being in bankruptcy to start the year. As of today, the Big THree is making over a billion dollars in profits. Their cars, especially the electric ones, are beginning to sell again in the states. In the past month, General Motors came back on the New York Stock Exchange. Overall, things are looking up in the auto industry

World AIDS Day 2010

2010-12-01T20:36:00.003-05:00

Today is World AIDS Day, which is a day to help people to find out more about Auto Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome, commonly known as AIDS. Many places around the country and the world are sponsoring AIDS testing clinics, and people are getting educated about the disease and what they can do to prevent it. I think that Abstinence should be practiced so that people won't get it or any other STD. Also, people should watch out for themselves when they go about their daily lives, so that they may take precautions in all they do. What are some of your thoughts about the spread of AIDS recently?

Greenery in the Grand Garden

2010-11-30T21:16:00.000-05:00

I saw this sign as I was taking an afternoon walk a couple of months ago. I happened near the MGM Grand Casino in Downtown Detroit, and saw this sign. The Greening of Detroit and the MGM Grand are teaming up to plant flowers and all sorts of greenery in a lot near the casino. This was located near the Parking deck for the casino. I think that it'll be really nice to see the "Grand Garden" when it "Blooms" next year. It's especially nice to see that little Robin there, especially in these cold-weather months. It makes me hopeful that the Spring will be here before we know it.

Parade PhotoBlog

2010-11-28T20:14:00.000-05:00

Here are some of my pictures that I took during the Thanksgiving Parade. Hope you enjoy them

Here are some old Model T's in the Parade from Greenfield Village. They followed the Absopure truck, which was an older model, itself.
This penguin is always one of my favorite balloons (one of my favorite animals is a Penguin, the other is a Tiger). This is the "Hob Nobble Gobble" balloon. The Hob Nobble Gobble is a fancy party before the parade for all the sponsors and benefactors (in other words, for those who paid a whole bunch of money) of the parade . The sign ahead of it thanks all the sponsors for their contributions
This float is new. It's from Flame Heating and Cooling here in the Metro Detroit area. It has a pig sliding down a slide in nice weather around the back, while another pig is shoveling snow up front at the "Hog Heaven" house. This reminds us all to check our heating and cooling systems before it gets too hot or cold, and you need your heat or air conditioning the most.
The Jolly Ol' Elf himself, Santa Claus, for the kiddos. He always receives the key to the city by the mayor each year.