It’s Tulip Time Again, photo by Mi Bob.
Holland’s annual Tulip Time celebration kicks off today and runs through May 14. Fireworks! Vintage Base Ball! Tulipalooza! Kinderplaats! Volksparade! Klompen! …and of course more than a million tulips and almost that many visitors!
Check it out bigger and in Bob’s Tulip Time slideshow.
The Wave, photo by Brian Confer
It isn’t often one of your favorite photographers (Brian Confer) shoots some cool portraits of another of your favorite photographers (Gary Howe) who happens to also run one of your personal favorite blogs (My Wheels Are Turning). When Gary posted some of the photos on Two Photographers Play In The Street & Nobody Gets Hurt yesterday, I knew I had to feature it here. He explains:
For this Reclaim the Streets themed concept we simply dragged some of my furniture into the street, gathered a few of my favorite books and wheeled the Flying Pigeon around. Brian took care of the rest with his excellent sense for lighting and mood. Other than a reschedule because of too much sun and blue sky, it went smooth. No one hurt, no one delayed.
You can see more photos from the shoot right here, and definitely read the excellent feature they were for: Old school social networking: TC’s Gary Howe wants to build a truly connected city.
See more photos from Brian at Studio B Photography.
Surfing Superior, photo by PhotoYoop.
Cory writes:
A mid spring storm brought cold temperatures and about 4 inches of snow to the U.P. But it also brought waves, and when she builds them, she calls them, and they come. These surfers traveled all the way from from Chicago and Milwaukee to surf the Great Lake.
Lake Superior, 4-17-11
Check this out bigger and in his The Yoop – U.P. slideshow. See many (many) more in his Surfing Superior 2011 set of photos on Facebook.
Here’s some shots from the day!
Superior Dome Skate, photo by Tim Rossland
The North Wind at Northern Michigan University in Marquette reports on an attempt this Sunday (April 10) to break the Guinness world record for largest skateboard parade:
The parade is sponsored by NMU Skate & Snow and the Marquette Informal Longboarding Federation. NMU President Les Wong will be the Grand Marshall.
The current record is 250 riders. Co-founder Jeremy Johnson believes that number will be shattered.
…The parade will start near the Thomas Fine Arts building, running through the Academic Mall, along parking lot 17 toward Whitman Hall before finishing on Elizabeth J. Harden Drive. Riders can register in the Academic Mall and at Whitman Hall the day of the event starting at 11 a.m. and are encouraged to bring extra longboards and skateboards for other participants.
The organizers have planned a big day with live music, prizes, free stuff and after party. You can get the details on Facebook where over 1400 are attending or maybe attending.
You can see this photo bigger right here and see more photos from their skate at the Superior Dome here.
jurrasic station, photo by hardyc
You never know what you might find when urban exploring these days. More photographic fun today on Absolute Michigan.
Make sure to check this out big as a brontosaur and see some of Chris’s other work in his creative – modified slideshow!
6 March 11, photo by singlecupofcoffee
March is one of the toughest times to be a Michigander as Mother Nature teases us with the promise of spring and then reminds us that winter isn’t yet over. Megan Elizabeth has decided (once again) that the best way to get through March is by jumping, and she’s selected umbrellas for the win.
Check this out bigger and in Megan’s march twenty-eleven JUMPS slideshow, and if you have your own strategy for dealing with March-induced cabin fever, share it in the comments!
van buren dunes beach- holga, photo by EllenJo.
Is it cruel or welcome to post photos like this in February? Please discuss below…
EllenJo writes that because her hands were wet it was hard to advance the film, so she ended up with some cool “happy accidents” like this. Check this out bigger in her blue slideshow and I hope your weekend is full of happy accidents!
More about Van Buren Dunes on Michigan in Pictures … more Holga too!
Onward & Upward (Series), photo by LadyDragonflyCC – Frozen Series Loaded.
Valentine’s Day is not far off, so we thought it would be a good idea to start folks thinking about how to Make it a Michigan Valentine’s Day! That link goes to our Facebook, but if that’s not your thing, you can comment below. Get some great ideas for gifts & getaways in Celebrate Valentine’s Day the Michigan Way on Absolute Michigan.
With this photo I was also hoping to share the thought that Valentine’s Day doesn’t need to be extravagant or involved … simple and from the heart works really well a lot of the time.
See it background big and see more in LadyDragonflyCC’s Frozen Possibilities slideshow.
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, photo by whitepuffycloud.
How do you feel as you face the New Year?
Check this out bigger in Shannon’s personal favorites slideshow.
Michigan in Pictures 
