Pot O Gold, photo by southarmstudio.
Rain, rain, bring us a rainbow and a pot of gold now please.
A Michigan Osprey Pair at Wildwing Lake
Osprey Pair at Wildwing Lake 1, photo by C.A. Mullhaupt.
C.A. Mullhaupt took this incredible photo (view it bigger) of a pair of osprey at Wildwing Lake in Kensington Metropark near Milford, Michigan.
The Michigan DNR’s Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) page says:
The “fish hawk” (length of 22-25 inches, wingspan of 4.5-6 feet) is brown above and white below, and flies with a distinct bend in its wing at the “wrist.” Their feet are equipped with spiny scales and long talons that give them a firm grip on slippery fish, their only prey. Ospreys usually select tall trees in marshes along streams, lakes or man made floodings. They will adapt to artificial nesting platforms. This help from humans, along with the restriction of certain harmful pesticides, has helped ospreys recover from the drastic population reductions seen in the 1950s and ’60s…
The Department of Natural Resources requests help from wildlife observers to report any sightings of osprey in southern Michigan, particularly in the Maple River area (north of St. Johns,) and in southeast Michigan (Oakland, Wayne, Macomb and Livingston counties.)
Osprey Watch of Southeast Michigan (OWSEM) is a non-profit volunteer organization based at Kensington Metropark. Their goal are to help the Michigan DNR in their efforts to restore the osprey to Southern Michigan and to educate the public about this very special raptor. On their very extensive web site they have a cool osprey sighting map, lots of reports and photos and there’s even information about osprey hacking.
You can learn more about the osprey from Wikipedia’s osprey entry and the get photos, calls and other info from
Pandion haliaetus (osprey) at the University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web
The Triumphal March: Detroit Red Wings 2008 Victory Celebration
The Triumphal March, photo by Airplane Lane.
Airplane Lane took this photo of the throngs cheering Detroit Red Wings Captain Nicklas Lidstrom holding the Stanley Cup aloft in celebration as he rode down Woodward Ave during the Red Wings victory parade.
You can check out a ton more photos in this Flickr slideshow of Detroit Red Wings victory parade (just the photos).
Michigan Drive-ins and the 75th anniversary of the drive-in
Wayne Drive-In Theatre Marquee – Wayne, Michigan, photo by michigandriveins.
In recognition of yesterday’s 75th anniversary of the drive-in, WIRED Magazine featured June 6, 1933: A Car, a Movie, Some Popcorn and Thou. You have to check it out, if only for the photo of the reverse side of the world’s first drive-in movie screen (Richard M. Hollingshead, Jr’s Camden NJ theater) advertising the opportunity to SIT IN YOUR CAR – SEE AND HEAR MOVIES for 25¢ per car, 25¢ per person and $1 for 3 or more people.
About the above photo of the marquee of the Wayne Drive-In Theatre, michigandriveins writes:
What an amazing display this must have been to pass through. This giant neon masterpiece was apparently built by the Long Sign Company. Detroit-based Long also constructed the still-standing Commerce Drive-In Marquee, and the long-gone Waterford Drive-In Marquee.
Amazingly, the top portion of this marquee was saved during demolition. A Ford plant now stands on the grave of the Wayne Drive-In. When the Wayne went down in 1990, speakers, projectors, and three of it’s four screens went to the Ford-Wyoming 6-9 Drive-In in Dearborn, they are still in use today.
I’d like to hear from anyone connected with the Long Sign Co.
Much (much) more about Michigan’s drive-ins and drive in history at michigandriveins.com (also see Drive-in theater on Wikipedia).
You can get even more cool old photos, posters and history about drive-ins in general and in Michigan from the Drive-in Theater History page at WaterWinterWonderland.com.
It was in the period of the late 1930’s that the state of Michigan was introduced to the drive-in, with the opening of the so-called “Drive-In”, later known as the Eastside, on May 26, 1938 with the film “The Big Broadcast of 1938.” A Mr. John H. Flancher filed a petition in court in July of that year on behalf of the residents of 3 Detroit suburbs. His contention was that the new Theater could be heard from two miles away and should be deemed a public nuisance. Although the petition contained over 500 signatures, the case was dropped when the Theater agreed to take steps to alleviate the problem which seemed to satisfy the petitioners and the court. This would not be the last time a drive-in Theater operator would run afoul of the local community however.
I’ll leave you with the Michigan Drive-in Theater slideshow on Flickr (just the photos) and say I hope you and yours get a chance to take in a film or three at a Michigan drive-in this summer! (There are 10 open in Michigan today!
GM Flyby at the Red Bull Air Race in Detroit
Last weekend’s air race in in Detroit produced some pretty cool photos. Andrew says to be sure to view this one Large on Black.
You can see a whole lot more in this slideshow of Detroit Red Bull Air Race photos (or the photo thumbnails).
Welcome Back, Stanley! Detroit Red Wings win Stanley Cup!!
Welcome Back, Stanley!, photo by radiospike photography
Spike writes that this photo of Red Wings captain Nik Lidstrom was taken after the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins to secure their 11th Stanley Cup. He has a ton of great Wings shots and says that his complete gallery of Red Wings photos will be on sale within hours.
For a while it looked to Wingnuts like the Red Wings were going to take fans to the edge of heaven and leave them there after a crushing game 5 loss. Last night fans gathered around their TVs, in the Joe Louis Arena and (lucky few) at Mellon Arena where their beloved Wings:
…played a perfect road game Wednesday night at Mellon Arena, defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins, 3-2, in Game 6 of the 2008 Stanley Cup Final to go wire-to-wire as the best team in the National Hockey League this season.
“It’s never easy,” Wings goalie Chris Osgood said. “Toughest trophy in sports to win; it lives for that name every year, that nickname. It was difficult, again. Pittsburgh is a great young team … gave us all we could handle. Probably one of the most difficult series I’ve played in a while. They have a talented team. They held on right to the end again. They kept pushing us still.”
Detroit Red Wings’ players, coaches and staff will participate in a parade to celebrate the 2008 Stanley Cup championship tomorrow (Friday, June 6) starting at 11 AM. The parade will end with a celebration rally at Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit. Click for all the details!
You can check Wikipedia’s 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs entry for the Wings route to Lord Stanley’s Cup. Here’s a slideshow of photos from the Detroit Red Wings 2008 playoff run on Flickr (just the photos) and you’ll also want check out the Detroit Red Wings group, and this slideshow of Game 6 photos from the Red Wings site.
Get Local with Michigan Farmer’s Markets!
DSC_0208, photo by kamerakara.
Kara says that farmer’s markets are what she does on Sundays. This photo is part of her Birmingham Farmers Market set (slideshow).
Over on Absolute Michigan we’re trying to help you put more Michigan on your table. One of the cool features we’ve added is our Absolute Michigan Map, and one of the first things we’ve added to that are a whole bunch of Michigan farmers markets – check it out!!
PS: I added the Birmingham Farmer’s Market to the map and you can get details on the market from enjoybirmingham.com.
Bendix G-15: $45,000 worth of computer
1950s Computer, photo courtesy Archives of Michigan
In their June 2008 Image of the Month, the Archives of Michigan explains:
This image shows how far computer technology has advanced! Although undated, it was probably taken during the last half of the 1950s. The Michigan State Highway Department offices would seem the likely setting. (The words “Department of Transportation” are stamped on the reverse side. The Michigan State Highway Department is a predecessor agency of the Michigan DOT.)
A logo reading “Bendix Computer” appears on the machine. Having conducted some research, this author believes the computer to be a Bendix model G-15. Paul E. Cerruzi, in his book A History of Modern Computing (Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 1998 ) notes that Harry Huskey developed the Bendix G-15 at Detroit’s Wayne State University in 1953. Cerruzi notes that the G-15 “was regarded as difficult to program, but for those who could program it, it was very fast.” He adds that the first models were delivered in 1956, at a “basic price of $45,000.” (Click History of Modern Computing to access an electronic copy of this book through ANSWER, the Library of Michigan’s online catalog.)
Click through to read the rest and be sure to view it bigger to appreciate the awesome computing power (and that amazing hair style). You can also check out Wikipedia’s info on the Bendix Corporation.
Exposure Detroit in Ann Arbor – June – July 2008
Fly by, photo by blind lemon larry.
The Exposure.Detroit in Ann Arbor show opens this Friday (June 6) from 7-9 PM at Sweetwaters Cafe in Ann Arbor and continues through July and the Ann Arbor Art Fair. The theme of the show is “Michigan means ______ to me” and you can see the photos submitted right here.
Selected photographers for the show are: vonhaupt, rhonda marie, mike glinski, joejoesmoe , orlowski photography, kevin ridge , buckshotjones, tedguy49, paulhitz, radiospike, bobby alcott, maya fardoun, caterpillars, A2 Kathy , ledio/shqipo, ryan southen, bashas04, david sr. – lapeer photography, 1manwithacamera , keith burgess photography, kathy4, blind lemon larry , urban picasso , living in red, Rich S , Katthor , amy palomar, senecacreek/, ralph ckrawczyk jr/, alanna st laurent.
This photo is part of Larry’s Michigan set (slideshow).
to the center of floral delight
to the center of floral delight, photo by mfophotos.
Mark says that the irises in his yard are looking great this year.
If you’re in the Royal Oak area today, the Iris Club of Southeast Michigan is holding an AIS sanctioned iris show. Viewing is from noon to 4 PM, and I assume all the good looking irises will be there.
If you’re not in the area, well, zoom into this photo, explore the 200+ varieties of irises on Wikipedia and sit back and watch this Michigan Iris show from Flickr.
Michigan in Pictures 
