Today's Sleestak Sunday entry is some unknown rock formation out west that resembles a reclining Sleestak.
Sleestak Rock Formation
Enik at Rest: Always Watchful
Resting Enik looks tired. Perhaps he ate too much turkey for Thanksgiving, or is sad that the Lions lost the game on Thursday afternoon. Are the rest of you still choked with Thanksgiving leftovers?
Today is "Black Friday". Yesterday, I saw the front of the New York Times showing a line in front of a Best Buy, so I went by the local Best Buy, about 4:00 PM Thanksgiving afternoon (no, I was out already, and did not make a special trip there). I found a line already around the building, with tents. Someone even had a generator tied to their car with a cable leading to a tent.
I did end up going out last night, but was home within 40 minutes. I wanted to go to a Target, but its line was halfway around the mall. Toys R US had Pinkertons carefully controlling entry. I figured that what I wanted would be gone 50 people into the 500 person long Target line, and I was able to get into Toys R Us to find out that what I wanted was long gone.
Some want to protest Black Friday with a "Buy Nothing Day". It's supposedly anti-corporate, but I think such efforts end up hitting Main Street the most, and if it were successful, there'd be untold countless casualties of retail jobs, many of which the workers need desparately. So I'd rather try to undo the efforts of those who want to kick the economy in the throat and damage the retail sector by treating it as "Buy More Day". Thing is, I've bought nothing yet so far today.
Downtown is quiet
I did go downtown to check out an interesting new independent bookstore I'd heard of and not been able to get to yet. The big-box stores had already been open for hours by this point. This bookstore wasn't open yet, and probably would not open for a couple more hours. I've long held that the success of Walmart and other such retailers is that they are open longer: a mode of customer service that goes a lot further than presenting customers with a locked door.
The photo to the right shows sleepy Black Friday morning downtown. Michael Moore's State Theatre is on the right. There's some construction going on, and only a few places are open..
Today's Sleestak Sundays entry is a takeoff on Joni Mitchell's album cover "The Hissing of Summer Lawns"I don't know much about Joni Mitchell, but I have some friends who are really into her music. I do off the top of my head remember such songs as "Help Me" and "Big Yellow Taxi".
Here is a youtube video of her song "River":
"I wish I had a river I could skate away on...."
The postcard view below is of ice skating on a frozen river in Japan.
It's Vaderday Saturday, and its time to find out if Darth Vader rocks.
The picture from the right is from Star Ferry Musings, entry #80. The blog author says this entry (to the right) reminded him of Darth Vader. I am not so sure about that, but it did remind me a lot of a foot. Or better yet, it is the face of Kilowog (below), the member of the Green Lantern Corps who likes to call people "poozers"
Kilowog: large and in charge
The Star Ferry link has a lot of very interesting stone giant, rock formation photos, and is worth checking out.
Fountain City, Wisconsin - Indian Head
Over at the "Books in Northport" blog, BB-Idaho mentioned growing up in Wisconsin's "Indian Head Country". I'd never heard of that designation, and had to look it up. I found this page, http://www.wisconsinindianhead.org/, which has a map of the Indian Head country, which is really much of western Wisconsin. In the southern area of Indian Head Country, you will indeed find a stone face resembling an Indian Head. I blogged about it earlier (click here). The postcard image to the right is from the first part of the 20th century. This Indian head is 44 feet tall, and only looks like an Indian head from a certain angle (the approach from the south)
If you want to check out many many more anthropomorphic natural wonders, check out the Minnesota Museum of the Mississippi: Stone Faces Gazetteer pages. You might well be surprised to find out there's a giant stone face staring over a valley somewhere near you.
(and oh yes, it is Christine Baranski Friday. And entirely unrelated to the subject, here's a picture of her in Obama Icon style to the right)
Christine Baranski Obama icon
In the radio feature, Patchett said why bookstores tend to locate the children's section in the back. She said it is in case the children try to make a break for it, it is harder for them to get out. Whatever the reason, any bookstore I can think of does indeed have the children's section in the back.
I've never read any Ann Patchett books, but I have read several by Anne Tyler. The titles of books by the two authors actually look similar.
Andrew Jackson Hotel- Nashville
I've never been to Nashville, actually. I don't count driving to the airport from the south and skirting the city. I'm not a big country music fan, so Nashville is one of those big cities I have not been to, and don't have a great desire to go to. Elsewhere in Tennessee, I've been to Memphis, though, and I like it a lot and want to go back.
Country singer Tom T Hall wrote of Nashville:
My plane set down in Nashville at a quarter after 2 A little while and I’d be on my way back home to you While I was waitin’ for my flight, got out and looked around Nashville is a groovy little town
I met some entertainers and they had an extra girl I told them I was just a tourist out to see the world From one place to another, yes we really made the rounds Nashville is a groovy little town
The postcard view to the right is a mid-20th century linen postcard of the Andrew Jackson Hotel in downtown Nashville. Acccording to this page, it was "...Opened in August of 1925 on the east side of Memorial Plaza on the
corner of Sixth Avenue and Deaderick Street. The massive brick structure
boasted 400 guest rooms. In 1971 the hotel was demolished to make
room for the Tennessee Performing Arts Center and the James K. Polk
State Office Building., I did not bother to look for pictures of the replacing buildings, but I doubt they looked as nice as this stately skyscraper.
And here are some Amazon links for some Ann Pratchett books, and some Ann Tyler books. If you don't have time to get to Nashville and get them at Parnassus...
I noticed today that the Killer Rants blog was back after a two-year hiatus. Two years. But it looks like he was back in July, and never returned after that. "Just a Girl"once did a similar post. Killer Rants was (is?) a funny blog about a deadly nurse who bore a facial resemblance to the MCP from "Tron".
So, I figured I look up to see what the blog neighborhood was like more than 4 years ago (April 2007)
Playtah hasn't posted for a couple of years. Nor has her sidekick. Laughing at the Slut is still posting her Insidious Truths. Diva T is still around, as is David in DC. I can't remember what "Almost Interesting Musings" were or Les Quinn. Or Mini Jon B? I think "Live Life Love Life Part 2" changed its name completely, but I am not sure which one it is now. Random Crap is gone, but there is another entirely different Random Crap by someone else. And Tara's "Electric Spaghetti" is still around.
I'm surprised there's still as many of us around. Things change, people find better things to do, and I am guessing that so many who did blogs are now doing all that on Facebook now.
Today's Sleestak Sunday entry has a Sleestak head added to Mt. Rushmore.
So, whom do you think should be added to Mt. Rushmore? If anyone? Some think maybe Ronald Reagan. Or how about JFK?. This link shows several more. And what about Millard Fillmore, Pat... er James Buchanan? Benjamin Franklin Pierce? And all those other "I can't believe that's a President" Presidents?
Any suggestions? Or should this monument just be left alone.
This is a "he said, she said," with no way to verify what really happened. A little less so for the two incidents where the women received settlements, since the association could publish a redacted copy of the reports and allow us to judge for ourselves.
The incident involving the woman that just came forward can never be verified. We are left to rely on character witnesses for both sides and examining other parts of their lives for a history of unsavoriness or other similar incidents.
I question Mr. Cain's judgment if he indeed placed himself in a position where he was with a woman alone. A powerful person who is prudent never does that. According to Mr. Cain and others, the two incidents that resulted in the settlements happened in public, not private.
I also question why this woman didn't go to the police. This was not some caddish behavior; she is alleging an assault. Not fighting evil is to countenance and nurture it. Leaving a predator free makes you complicit in his subsequent attacks."
Another person said to me that maybe he did some stuff that was nothing to him, but it mattered a lot to the women he did it to.
Myself, I do usually suspect it is true when sexual harassment/rape allegations come out against someone. Be it Bill Clinton, Clarence Thomas, Kobe Bryant, the Kennedy rapist, Mike Tyson, Andrew Weiner, or commentator Juan Williams. It's just that these allegations tend to pan out to be true a lot more of the time than they pan out to be false.
Western hero Silverfiddle's blog post is entitled "A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words". Well, this is one of the photos I got of Cain. In this photo, he looks kind of guarded. And yes, he was wearing a pink shirt. I sat about 12 feet away from him. Cain did speak a thousand words or more. it is probably a typical campaign stump speech. He fired up the crowd, criticized President Obama, and told some about what he would do. He only obliquely referred to the sex scandal once.
And yes, he did shake my hand. If he becomes elected, it will the first President who's hand I've shaken since 1976.
Seeing the name of Silverfiddle's blog "Western Hero" put the tune to the fine Neil Young of the same name song in my head. A song that involves the Old West and militarism. It makes me think at the same time of Ronald Reagan, and Roland of Gilead, the gunslinger from Stephen King's meta-western "Dark Tower" series. I'm not sure what cowboys have to do with Herman Cain, but there is this article, and I'm sure Cain wants to be the next Reagan.
If we can elect a peanut farmer from Georgia or a community organizer from Chicago, or a pizza magnate can run for President (why not have a little Caesar for President?), why can't we have a Sleestak in the White House? A Sleestak who harvests moths by the light of the triple moons for his living? But seriously, and non-seriously, how many other pop culture/ joke candidates can we think of who have run for President?
General Zod, who ran in 2008. He claimed "In 2008 I shall restore your dignity and make you servants worthy of my rule." The honesty of a man who demands that the world kneel before him is refreshing when you consider that so many politicians have this sort of arrogance but just won't admit it.
Richard Nixon, still tanned, still rested, still ready.
Pat Paulsen. "He's back, and still better than the rest."
Prez Rickard, the first teen president.Howard the Duck from 1976. Hard to believe he was cool and edgy.... back before his name was associated with one of the worst movies of all time.. Cleveland's own duck with an attitude.
Hallowe'en is long over, as is November 1st (National Smashed Pumpkins on the Streets Day). But here is a photo of a pumpkin carved with a Darth Vader picture. No national celebration is immune from the power of the dark side, it seems. It is found in this Epic Pumpkins page.
Of course, I wonder sometimes if the existing helmet laws are really being obeyed. I see many riders wearing helmets that look like cereal-bowl sized Sgt Schultz helmets, which I can't imagine are much protection at all.
But I am not a motorcycle rider, so I really can't have a strong opinion on this. Are any of my other readers motorcycle riders who would like to weigh in on this one?
Jon Bumstead is from Newaygo. I have no idea if he can make a mean 2 foot tall sandwich, though, or if his wife is blonde.
But he is not the only political figure from Newaygo County. There's also Newaygo Newt, who ran for President on the Pizzle Ticket (see the above postcard)
Newt Gingrich, who likely has no idea what or where Newaygo is, and might venture that it is the name of a new Segway ripoff if you asked him, might like Candidate Newaygo Newt's slogan: "A Vote for Newt is Bound to Suit".
Addendum: "Books in Northport" has a post on the recent passing of another West Michigan politician, Howard Wolpe. Whatever your political pursuasion, check into his work he did with Africa.
"Ernest Jack Sharpsteen was born on July 8, 1888. He later became known as Ernest Jack Sharp or his pen name of "Newaygo Newt"... Sharpsteen thought it would be nice to write down some of the traditional stories of the backwoods that he had heard from the old-timers. He started sending postcard views of his resort to friends and an editor friend, with four-line verses pertaining to nature under the heading of "Newaygo Newt Sez". The postcard were also placed in newspapers. The verses connected with the public, and soon people were asking for longer verses, so the verses became longer, and the title was changed to 'Tall Tales of Newaygo Newt" (from Newaygo County 1850-1920 by the Newayo County Society of History and Genealogy'.
If Pennsylvania can have a Senator Joe Sleestak, why can't Michigan have a Representative Dagwood Bumstead?
Newaygo Newt is just one of several odd figures from Michigan history that show up on postcards and elsewhere. These include Rock the Suttons Bay Hermit, Raymond W. Overholzer and his "Shrine of the Pines", Angus MacHigan, honorary Polish Indian named Stanley Smolak, and Spikehorn Meyers (the bear guy of Harrison)
I am not aware of any bookstores at all in Newaygo County to direct you to. But there is the Book Nook and Java Shop in nearby Montague, Michigan. I've never been there, but it sounds like a good place.
Today's "Statuesday" entry is the life-sized statue found just inside the entry of the new Tiger Stadium.... er "Comerica Park" in downtown Detroit. This one features the announcer Ernie Harwell. I took these photos during the summer during my first and only (so far) visit to the Detroit Tigers ballpark. It was a good season for the Tigers.
I saw Ernie Harwell speak a few years ago, and he was truly a great man. He passed away since. Now this statue is one of the memories of him.
Detroit is known for the Lions and Tigers and cars. Unfortunately, it was also known for its crime. Several months ago, perhaps shortly before I took these photos, someone stole the glasses off Ernie. Now the statue is blind, as you can see in the photo.
Manuel is also back now after a blogging hiatus. Click here to see his latest entry, with a similar photo of a statue of Walt Disney that guards Disneyland.
Herman Cain came to town last night. When some sort of political bigwig or candidate shows up, I try to go. I've seen a few, and missed a few.
This one looks like it came from the blogger Sleestak at "That's My Skull", but it is found elsewhere now.
"Jack-o-the-Sith".
It is in the news recently that the plans to repeal Michigan's motorcycle helmet law are making great headway. They hope that this time the governor will repeal it. This legislation has been pushed by State Representative Jon Bumstead (R-Newaygo)
readers motorcycle riders who would like to weigh in on this one?
ckwoods that he had heard from the old-timers. He started sending postcard views of his resort to friends and an editor friend, with four-line verses pertaining to nature under the heading of "Newaygo Newt Sez". The postcard were also placed in newspapers. The verses connected with the public, and soon people were asking for longer verses, so the verses became longer, and the title was changed to 'Tall Tales of Newaygo Newt" (from Newaygo County 1850-1920 by the Newayo County Society of History and Genealogy'.
uple of Newaygo blogs to visit:
Today's "Statuesday" entry is the life-sized statue found just inside the entry of the new Tiger Stadium.... er "Comerica Park" in downtown Detroit. This one features the announcer Ernie Harwell. I took these photos during the summer during my first and only (so far) visit to the Detroit Tigers ballpark. It was a good season for the Tigers.
