The Bird Girl Angie, photo by sharona 315 사론아.
Michigan in Pictures has a lot of Michigan birds but nothing quite like Angie!!
Check this out bigger in Sharon’s Winter slideshow.
the speed of life
the speed of life, photo by .brianday..
How fast is your life moving? Fast enough to stay warm?
Check it out bigger and in Brian’s Street Photography slideshow.
January 2011 Michigan Events!
Ludington Michigan New Year’s Day Sunset, photo by ShaneWyatt.
Our January Event Calendar is posted on Absolute Michigan. Check it out for all kinds of January fun!
Shane took this photo as the sun was setting and the winds were whipping along at 40 MPH at the end of the first day of the 2011 in Ludington. Check it out bigger in his Michigan slideshow.
Banished Words: Epic Viral Fail
Face Plant photo by Rudy Malmquist
Every year, Lake Superior State University puts together their list of Banished Words. Before we get to the current list, here’s a little back story:
In 1977, one year after Lake Superior State University Public Relations Director W.T. (Bill) Rabe released the first “banished words list,” he said that the international reaction from news media and the public told him “it would go on forever.”
Forever may be stretching it, but the annual List of Words Banished from the Queen’s English for Mis-Use, Over-Use and General Uselessness has been going strong since New Year’s Day 1976 and shows no signs of stopping. People from around the world have nominated hundreds of words and phrases such as “you know,” “user friendly,” “at this point in time,” and “have a nice day,” to be purged from the language.
Here’s a few choice words from their 2011 Banished Words List:
“Standards for using ‘epic’ are so low, even ‘awesome’ is embarrassed.” Mike of Kettering, Ohio.
It may have been word of the year in some wheelhouses, but “refudiate” wasn’t looked upon favorably by many who sent in nominations.
“Aren’t all Americans people? Every political speech refers to the ‘American’ people as if simply saying ‘Americans’ (or ‘people’) is not enough.” Deb of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
But words and phrases related to technology and the way we communicate dominated the list for 2011, including “viral,” “epic,” “fail,” and the use of websites “Facebook” and “Google” as verbs. “Viral” received the most nominations.
“Facebook is a great, addicting website. Google is a great search engine. However, their use as verbs causes some deep problems. As bad as they are, the trend can only get worse, i.e. ‘I’m going to Twitter a few people, then Yahoo the movie listings and maybe Amazon a book or two.” Jordan of Waterloo, Ont.
Lake Superior State University accepts nominations all year, and you can post comments about this year’s words (or any other words that you wish to refudiate) on the LSSU Banished Words Facebook.
Check this photo out too big to fail or in Rudy’s slideshow.
X is for (e)Xhiliration
X is for (e)Xhiliration, photo by whitepuffycloud.
How do you feel as you face the New Year?
Check this out bigger in Shannon’s personal favorites slideshow.
Number Eleven: Happy New Year!
Number Eleven, photo by bill.d.
We’re 10% of the way through the 21st Century … more or less. So far it hasn’t been the best of decades for Michigan, but it seems like more and more hopeful signs are being seen.
Turn it up to eleven, Michigan.
Check it out bigger in Bill’s slideshow.
New Year’s Eve Magic
Dance Magic Dance, photo by MightyBoyBrian.
“To leave the old with a burst of song,
To recall the right and forgive the wrong;
To forget the thing that blinds you fast
To the vain regrets of the year that’s past.”
~Robert B. Beattie
Please accept the warmest wishes of the crew at Absolute Michigan for a safe, happy and magical New Years Eve! Here’s our listing of Michigan New Year’s Eve Happenings!
Brian writes that he kept the shutter open for 1.3 seconds after the two flashes fired so that he could get a streaking of ambient light. The final effect blew his mind (and mine). Check it out background bigalicious and in his People slideshow.
3-2-1…
Michigan in Pictures Birthday Wake up!
Banier: Wake up!, photo by Matt Callow.
Good morning, Michigan in Pictures faithful, and I hope you’re getting a little break as 2010 winds to a close.
Five years ago post #001 on Michigan in Pictures was A Pond on Bald Mountain. Since then, I find that I have learned a staggering amount of the lore and lands of this amazing state I call home.
The really cool thing is that I already have ideas of many more topics to explore.
And the really, really cool thing is that lots of the posts on Michigan in Pictures are a result of a story from one Michigan’s talented storytellers or of looking at a photo and wondering about the story behind it.
And the really, really (really) cool thing is that there’s all of you out there. So many of you have stories, observations and photos about the photos and the stories that appear on Michigan in Pictures. Some of you share them in the comments. I’d encourage more of you to do the same. Thanks for being a part of Michigan in Pictures.
Check Matt’s photo out bigger and in his diana set. There’s lot’s of great photos and thoughts on photography from Matt Callow on Michigan in Pictures including a three part interview with him. For a real treat, check out his Flickriver.
A micro-lesson in tectonophysics
A micro-lesson in tectonophysics (a word I just learned from the Wiki)., photo by Elizabeth Glass.
Elizabeth says the just learned tectonophysics from the Wiki and writes:
Plate tectonics, right? A process that took (sorry, I mean “is taking”) millions of years, and yet if you get outside every day and watch your lake freeze you can see the whole drama unfold over the course of one winter. Sections of surface are continually pushed until they begin to overlap and rise up into mountains. Geysers and volcanos are formed, because sometimes what’s underneath needs to be able to get out. Geologic layers develop that rival the beauty of any canyon you’ve ever seen, and they change from day to day! Is it winter where you are? Lucky you! GO OUTSIDE!!!
Check it out along with many others in her Ice slideshow.
Want more ice? How about Great Lakes Ice: A Play in Four Acts from Absolute Michigan?
Complete Streets could change the look of Michigan cities
SCW bike lane Front St, photo by TART Trails.
Today’s post comes courtesy of the Grand Vision in northwest Michigan…
The Detroit Free Press has a report on a law passed this year that could have a big impact on the future design of Michigan’s cities. The Complete Streets act directs transportation planners in the state to plan for streets that accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists along with cars and trucks.
It means that Michigan is now on the record acknowledging that it is a mistake to build roadways just to move high volumes of vehicle traffic as fast as possible. Designing healthy cities means considering all potential users of a street, regardless of their age or ability.
Ultimately, complete streets could produce road designs that accommodate sidewalk restaurants and the like, and intersection designs that allow pedestrians to cross in safety, not in fear of their lives.
A complete street, in other words, would be designed to handle pedestrians, people in wheelchairs, families pushing strollers and bicyclists. It also would meet the needs of retail and commercial users for wider sidewalks or slower traffic speeds.
See this photo by John Robert Williams bigger in the Smart Commute Week set.
Michigan in Pictures 