After the death of Marilyn Monroe in August, 1962, one of the Detroit radio stations had a contest. They asked listeners to name the movies she had appeared in with the winner receiving movie tickets and an album of her songs. Well, I won the contest.
This would be a snap today because we would all 'google' Marilyn Monroe movies and there they would be. I seem to remember listing around 25 of them. I had a huge collection of movie star magazines and directories and I went through them to find what I needed.
The LP I received (that's a long-playing vinyl record for you youngsters) had the song "Heat Wave" on it from "There's No Business Like Show Business". I listened to that album so many times I can still sing along with every song.
I found myself singing the song in the car today. I also began to wonder what was the hottest summer in Michigan after seeing today's papers. I found some information at the National Weather Service.
In the summer of 1953 my family moved into my aunt's home in Detroit while she and her husband went off to Italy to visit relatives. A girl down the block from her had polio and we were all told that we had to stay indoors. I am guessing that the summer of 1953 would have been the one when us children were told that running under the sprinklers would cause polio. No A/C in those days. I spent a lot of the time in my aunt's basement.
For some reason I do not remember the hot summer of 1964, but I sure do remember 1988. It was my first election. All I had was an August primary. I will never forget standing at the polls on election day. It was unbearable. It was the hottest August 2 ever recorded in Michigan. A hot 100 degrees.
According to the National Weather Service, 1995 was the hottest summer ever. I really don't have much recollection of that year. I must have been working too hard.
So, it will be interesting to see where this year registers when it is all over. My outdoor thermometer is predicting rain. HAH! I've seen that before. I am sure it rained somewhere recently, just not here. Maybe I should start singing "Baby, It's Cold Outside". The power of positive thinking.
Update: http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/will-2010-be-warmest-year-on-record-globally/19639863
Rocky Mountain High
With all the really important things to worry about, we also have the use of marijuana for chronic pain. Looking at the pictures in today's paper of the people arrested , I wonder what type of chronic pain they are suffering from. I have been dealing with a shoulder injury since May, 2009, but I would not consider getting high to make the pain less. Tylenol and therapy will work just fine.
When I was in Montana on the vacation from H---, I read an article in the local paper about problems with Montana's law. I wish I could find it on the web because it said that something like 25% of people under 40 in some Montana town are using medical marijuana. I did Google 'Montana + marijuana' and found several interesting articles, including those that talk about efforts to change their current law. One article from a Dakota paper, pointed out several informative details about Montana's law.
So, what I am thinking is that Montana is our fourth largest state, yet has less than one million residents. So how about we fix up their law and let everyone with chronic pain, and the need to use medical marijuana, move to Montana. Just a thought.
When I was in Montana on the vacation from H---, I read an article in the local paper about problems with Montana's law. I wish I could find it on the web because it said that something like 25% of people under 40 in some Montana town are using medical marijuana. I did Google 'Montana + marijuana' and found several interesting articles, including those that talk about efforts to change their current law. One article from a Dakota paper, pointed out several informative details about Montana's law.
So, what I am thinking is that Montana is our fourth largest state, yet has less than one million residents. So how about we fix up their law and let everyone with chronic pain, and the need to use medical marijuana, move to Montana. Just a thought.
Nostalgia
I am not much of a pack-rat, but occasionally I have stashed stuff away that proves memorable. While cleaning out my closet this morning, I found a poster from the American Cancer Society Great American Lock-up from March, 1993. No, I do clean more than once every 20 years, but I keep putting this back in there.
The first year I remember being part of this ACS event was 1992. The Township Clerk and I were led away in hand-cuffs from our offices and taken to someplace in Novi. Imagine the looks we got from drivers on the way. Two women in fur coats sitting in the back of a police car. I can only imagine what they thought.
There are eighteen photos of 'suspects' on the poster I have. What is really clever is the charge against each of us. I am charged with paying my taxes late. Our Township Supervisor, who was known for her apple pies, was charged with an unlawful desire to bake them.
There is the private investigator charged with 'ogling', the doctor charged with 'impersonating a golfer', and a local mayor charged with ' being an honest politician.' But my favorite, with apologies to my friends, is the attorney charged with 'impersonating a human being'. You have to wonder who thought that one up.
Now I just have to bring myself to throw this out. Am I sure my family doesn't want to chuckle over this when I am gone?
The first year I remember being part of this ACS event was 1992. The Township Clerk and I were led away in hand-cuffs from our offices and taken to someplace in Novi. Imagine the looks we got from drivers on the way. Two women in fur coats sitting in the back of a police car. I can only imagine what they thought.
There are eighteen photos of 'suspects' on the poster I have. What is really clever is the charge against each of us. I am charged with paying my taxes late. Our Township Supervisor, who was known for her apple pies, was charged with an unlawful desire to bake them.
There is the private investigator charged with 'ogling', the doctor charged with 'impersonating a golfer', and a local mayor charged with ' being an honest politician.' But my favorite, with apologies to my friends, is the attorney charged with 'impersonating a human being'. You have to wonder who thought that one up.
Now I just have to bring myself to throw this out. Am I sure my family doesn't want to chuckle over this when I am gone?
Beautiful Music
Without question, the thing I would miss most if I moved away from the Detroit area, that exists inside the City itself, would be the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Yes, I enjoy the Detroit Institute of Arts, but the symphony keeps me coming back week after week.
My original subscription series was for the Thursday night Pops, but often I found that its was 'pops' I was not really interested in hearing. And then I would exchange my tickets.
When I had meetings in Lansing on Friday morning for my MGFOA committee, I had to leave at intermission to get home and get enough sleep to make the drive, especially during the winter which necessitated an earlier departure time. So, I switched to Friday nights and also to the classical series.
I have loved every minute of it (with the exception of two pieces that were truly painful to hear). I have seen Lang Lang, YoYo Ma, John Williams, and Hillary Hahn, to name a few. I have gained an appreciation of both the cello and the violin, which never had much appeal to me before hearing them in a concert hall.
For the upcoming season, I switched my tickets to Sunday afternoon. I figured I did not need to deal with driving in bad weather at night, when it was just as easy to go during the day.
And now I sit here and read the details of a season that may not be. I understand both sides. I was both a union president and a member of management in my two different careers. Both sides have difficult decisions to make. Management cannot keep hemorrhaging cash. Especially cash it does not have. Musicians, as do all workers, do not want to give up salary and benefits. There has to be a middle ground.
If musicians are right and they can make more elsewhere, and therefore leave Detroit, the quality of the orchestra may well decline. If that happens, more folks will put their money elsewhere and the company will further decline. What is clear is that the company cannot continue as it has done in the past. The money is just not there.
Sound like a vicious circle? It is. I hope they reach an agreement, but I may well be spending my Sunday afternoons at home with a good book and a bunch of CDs.
My original subscription series was for the Thursday night Pops, but often I found that its was 'pops' I was not really interested in hearing. And then I would exchange my tickets.
When I had meetings in Lansing on Friday morning for my MGFOA committee, I had to leave at intermission to get home and get enough sleep to make the drive, especially during the winter which necessitated an earlier departure time. So, I switched to Friday nights and also to the classical series.
I have loved every minute of it (with the exception of two pieces that were truly painful to hear). I have seen Lang Lang, YoYo Ma, John Williams, and Hillary Hahn, to name a few. I have gained an appreciation of both the cello and the violin, which never had much appeal to me before hearing them in a concert hall.
For the upcoming season, I switched my tickets to Sunday afternoon. I figured I did not need to deal with driving in bad weather at night, when it was just as easy to go during the day.
And now I sit here and read the details of a season that may not be. I understand both sides. I was both a union president and a member of management in my two different careers. Both sides have difficult decisions to make. Management cannot keep hemorrhaging cash. Especially cash it does not have. Musicians, as do all workers, do not want to give up salary and benefits. There has to be a middle ground.
If musicians are right and they can make more elsewhere, and therefore leave Detroit, the quality of the orchestra may well decline. If that happens, more folks will put their money elsewhere and the company will further decline. What is clear is that the company cannot continue as it has done in the past. The money is just not there.
Sound like a vicious circle? It is. I hope they reach an agreement, but I may well be spending my Sunday afternoons at home with a good book and a bunch of CDs.
Making the 'Best Dressed' List
Back in the early 90's, our local newspaper, now defunct, did a story on what the Township Board members wore to a meeting. Really, on the society page. I do not make this stuff up. I wondered at the time who really thought this was newsworthy.
Well, I guess I was just out of touch. It seems to be important in decision making.
According to an online survey by Huffington Post, our Governor ranks among the most stylish female politicians. OK. Some folks like this survey stuff and even I participate on occasion.
But the most astonishing thing about the survey indicates the following:
1. 55% believe that style is as important as substance in the success of a politician. And,
2. 40% would choose the better dressed candidate.
Is it any wonder we find ourselves in the economic and political mess we are experiencing? But this is not new.
Growing up in a Democratic family, I remember classmates from Republican families, ridiculing Adlai Stevenson. An egghead they called him, though I guess the term today is 'nerd' and that is 'in'. And what was wrong with being smart, I wondered? Why was I teased for having good grades?
I am sure charisma had as much to do with Kennedy defeating Nixon as did political party and policy. And such a nice family. As though we were going to have tea with them.
I will never forget the person who told me that they voted for me in an election because I had a nice smile. That, and four bucks, will get me a latte at Caribou. Or tea.
Well, I guess I was just out of touch. It seems to be important in decision making.
According to an online survey by Huffington Post, our Governor ranks among the most stylish female politicians. OK. Some folks like this survey stuff and even I participate on occasion.
But the most astonishing thing about the survey indicates the following:
1. 55% believe that style is as important as substance in the success of a politician. And,
2. 40% would choose the better dressed candidate.
Is it any wonder we find ourselves in the economic and political mess we are experiencing? But this is not new.
Growing up in a Democratic family, I remember classmates from Republican families, ridiculing Adlai Stevenson. An egghead they called him, though I guess the term today is 'nerd' and that is 'in'. And what was wrong with being smart, I wondered? Why was I teased for having good grades?
I am sure charisma had as much to do with Kennedy defeating Nixon as did political party and policy. And such a nice family. As though we were going to have tea with them.
I will never forget the person who told me that they voted for me in an election because I had a nice smile. That, and four bucks, will get me a latte at Caribou. Or tea.
Learning to be in the Minority
During my more than twenty years in public office, I went through two periods of being in the minority, when I wondered why I bothered showing up for board meetings. Well, the reason was simple: State law required that I attend all meetings. When necessary, I made my minority comments, voted my conscience and went on with my full-time duties as Treasurer. Sometimes, I just acquiesced because I didn't need to make enemies.
Sitting here watching the Township of West Bloomfield Board meeting, I am trying to understand why two certain members of this Board find the need to show how much they disagree with the majority at every meeting. They make motions knowing they have no chance of being passed. What's more, the motions are sometimes just 'stupid'. And not just motions, but ask 'stupid' questions. Do you really believe that sending an informational email to everyone violates the Open Meetings Act?
I try not to watch or show up, but at what point do I have to either move out of town, unplug the TV, or stop reading the newspapers? I find myself yelling at the TV, mostly at Trustee Kaplan.
Sitting here watching the Township of West Bloomfield Board meeting, I am trying to understand why two certain members of this Board find the need to show how much they disagree with the majority at every meeting. They make motions knowing they have no chance of being passed. What's more, the motions are sometimes just 'stupid'. And not just motions, but ask 'stupid' questions. Do you really believe that sending an informational email to everyone violates the Open Meetings Act?
I try not to watch or show up, but at what point do I have to either move out of town, unplug the TV, or stop reading the newspapers? I find myself yelling at the TV, mostly at Trustee Kaplan.
TIME OUT
OK. I had to leave my home to go to the meeting. I got up and spoke to correct the misstatements about how the Board has operated for the last 50 years. When I was done, I went out in the hall where I then heard the Supervisor inform the public that she was not interested in listening to former officials. HELLO??? I pay your salary. I AM YOUR BOSS.
I am not sure who is giving lessons in arrogance at the township, but they must have gotten a package deal.
I am not sure who is giving lessons in arrogance at the township, but they must have gotten a package deal.
I had truly believed that things could not get worse. Guess I was wrong.
The Old Alma Mater
Wayne State University was in the headlines today for not graduating enough minority students. Actually, I find it interesting that we still track graduation rates by race. But that is not the point of this blog today. Rather, it is about graduates actually performing as though they went to college.
Just recently someone said to me that if a certain person graduated from the University of Michigan with not one, but two, degrees, then they were very disappointed in the university. They said the standards must have really declined to allow that to happen as the woman was a complete 'ditz'.
This is nothing new. I am sure each of us knows someone that we cannot believe actually made it through college. Of course, we must also remember that not everyone is an A or even a B student. You can graduate with Cs and spend many years doing it. When my youngest was at Wayne, he commented once that he did not know how some students even got admitted.
When I was teaching at Detroit General (Receiving) Hospital, we used to have multiple choice and essay exams for our medical technology students. I taught clinical enzymology and I wanted to make sure that students could actually explain to me what test results really meant. One of my students wrote so poorly that it took three of us to decifer what she was saying. She was only one of several students over the years who had trouble passing the English essay that Wayne required for graduation. It was not long before the lab staff decided to switch to all multiple choice exams. From what I see on many blogs, command of the English language, in terms of writing at least, is deplorable.
Way back when I started college in 1964, I was told by my counselor that only 25% of my entering class would graduate. We had 40 students that year. Four years later, only 13 of us graduated with our BS degrees in Medical Technology. After several more years it seemed the University decided the curriculum was too difficult and they changed the program to make it easier. Wow, now we can graduate more students and send them off into the work force. Think about that next time you have to have lab work done.
Just recently someone said to me that if a certain person graduated from the University of Michigan with not one, but two, degrees, then they were very disappointed in the university. They said the standards must have really declined to allow that to happen as the woman was a complete 'ditz'.
This is nothing new. I am sure each of us knows someone that we cannot believe actually made it through college. Of course, we must also remember that not everyone is an A or even a B student. You can graduate with Cs and spend many years doing it. When my youngest was at Wayne, he commented once that he did not know how some students even got admitted.
When I was teaching at Detroit General (Receiving) Hospital, we used to have multiple choice and essay exams for our medical technology students. I taught clinical enzymology and I wanted to make sure that students could actually explain to me what test results really meant. One of my students wrote so poorly that it took three of us to decifer what she was saying. She was only one of several students over the years who had trouble passing the English essay that Wayne required for graduation. It was not long before the lab staff decided to switch to all multiple choice exams. From what I see on many blogs, command of the English language, in terms of writing at least, is deplorable.
Way back when I started college in 1964, I was told by my counselor that only 25% of my entering class would graduate. We had 40 students that year. Four years later, only 13 of us graduated with our BS degrees in Medical Technology. After several more years it seemed the University decided the curriculum was too difficult and they changed the program to make it easier. Wow, now we can graduate more students and send them off into the work force. Think about that next time you have to have lab work done.
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