Dave and some like-minded individuals created SolarYpsi in 2005 with the hope of making their hometown a solar power destination through tying solar power generation to the electrical grid.

Their web site showcases real-time reporting of electrical production via solar panels, tracking panels are located on top of the Ypsilanti Food Coop, the Riverstreet Bakery, Ypsilanti City Hall and an Ann Arbor Transportation Authority bus stop.

Here's Google's Search Story Creator in case you want to try your hand. Head over to absolutemichigan.com/solar for more Michigan solar information.

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We continue our Michigan's 175th Birthday Bash giveaway today. What's more, we've had so much fun doing a giveaway a day that we're going to see just how long we can keep things going with our new program called The Daily Michigan that will feature a giveaway a day from the Great Lakes State! It all starts on Monday so tune in!

In celebration of Michigans 175th birthday, we'll be featuring some tweets to #mich175 that we like, paired with photos from our Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr! They'll also be on our Absolute Michigan Facebook page! Reload for updates, share YOUR thoughts in the comments below, in our Flickr group or on our Facebook and Happy Birthday to Mamma Michigan!!

bethanylouise (Reware Vintage)  How's it going, Michigan? Having a good birthday? #Mich175

photo: dunescape by tbug2

MMFlint (Michael Moore) RT @imajoebob You are aware that Corn Flakes were created 2 reduce one's sex drive? I shudder thinking what was behind Fruit Loops.#Mich175

photo: Phototherapy, breakfast cereal and the Battle Creek Sanitarium courtesy Willard Library

epeep yet another reason to celebrate the #mitten :D!!! Fossils of #mastodons have been found in 250+ locations in #Michigan. #Mich175 #mittenlove

Photo: Painting the Mastodon by kafka4prez

freep (Detroit Free Press) Why is #Michigan is called the Wolverine State? Story has to do with being as bloodthirsty and gluttonous as wolverines #Mich175. Get the story at  gulo gulo: The Wolverine and Why Michigan is the Wolverine State on Michigan in Pictures.

photo credit: Gulo gulo by anikarenina

HuffPostDetroit We've been loving your MI facts all day! MT @stabenow: Rosie the Riveter was a real woman from MI who built planes for the war #Mich175 (see Lansing’s Rosie the Riveter: Geraldine Hoff Doyle from Absolute Michigan)

photo: The Real Rosie the Riveter from Seeking Michigan

Sheplersferry @anellah Us, too! "I love Michigan because it has more lighthouses than any other state in the US." #mibirthday #Mich175

Photo: "September Gale" Grand Haven Breakwater Lighthouse is located in the harbor of Grand Haven, Michigan by Michigan Nut (the second most popular photo in the Absolute Michigan pool!!)

hayleyscomment @PureMichigan @stabenow One of my favorite mitten state facts: We are the 2nd most agriculturally diverse state in the country! #Mich175

photo: Carrots by amzakem

MackenzieRauch One of my favorite things about Michigan is fall time. Especially the donuts and cider! Happy birthday, Michigan! #Mich175

photo: happle bokeh wednesday eve! by mlephotos

@glamorousmoms Great things about Michigan..our rising arts and fashion industry, our auto companies and our GREAT talented hard working people! (glamorousmoms.com right out of Detroit)

photo: Detroit Auto Show 2012-6147 by RichardDemingPhotography

@DrinkMichigan Did you know? Frankenmuth Brewery (@fb1862) is one of America's oldest breweries & is known as Michigan's Original Craft Beer. #mich175

photo: Frankenmuth Brewery HDR edit by SL Morrison

@Alexis Shull You helped me develop my love of cherries, wine, lakes, whitefish, automation,music, food, culture & more! Happy Birthday Michigan! #mich175

photo: Traverse City, Michigan Cherry Orchard by Pamela Bevelhymer

Continue in the Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr!

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...at which time the center courtyard section was enclosed by the addition of a geodesic dome roof section weighing 18,000 pounds. The Rotunda reopened to the public on June 16, 1953, as part of Ford's 50th Anniversary Celebration. A highlight of this celebration included 50 huge Birthday candles, mounted and lit along the rim of the Rotunda.

The ultra-modern Rotunda was a huge attraction, becoming the fifth most popular United States tourist destination during the 1950s. In fact, only Niagara Falls, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, The Smithsonian Institution, and the Lincoln Memorial were more popular. Yellowstone, Mount Vernon, the Washington Monument, and the Statue of Liberty all received less visitors.

The annual Christmas Fantasy held during the Holiday season was partially responsible for the Rotunda's popularity, with nearly a half million people visiting during 1953, the very first year it was held. A giant Christmas tree was always a spectacular thing to see, and the Christmas Fantasy became more spectacular each year. Highlights from various years included animated characters from children's stories, a 1/2" per foot scale 15,000-piece miniature circus with 800 animals, 30 tents, and 435 toy figurines of circus performers and customers. In all, nearly 6 million people visited the Christmas Fantasy during the nine years it was held at the Rotunda.

When flames consumed a Christmas fantasy from the Detroit News Rearview Mirror relates that over 6 million people visited the Christmas Fantasy over the 9 years it was held and tells the sad tale of how it burned to the ground on November 9, 1962. You can see some more photos from Ford and see a Ford Rotunda slideshow from Karen Breen-Bondie.  Many of the photos below also appear on Television History - The First 75 Years. They also have a nice aerial of how the Ford Rotunda was located in relation to the Rouge Plant.

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Do you suppose that Tom Izzo uses lines like "I can't offer you beaches and palm trees, but chances are you'll be playing on aircraft carriers and on national television in March."??

This Friday, November 11th at 7 PM on ESPN the Michigan State University Spartans men's basketball team will face the North Carolina Tar Heels aboard the USS Carl Vinson (Wikipedia/Facebook) in what is being dubbed the Quicken Loans Carrier Classic.  Friday is also Veterans Day, and former Lakers MSU great Magic Johnson and James Worthy of UNC, both former Lakers will be on hand as honorary captains.  They'll also have at least one VIP in the stands, President Barack Obama.

Home Post has a slideshow of the process of turning the deck of the USS Carl Vinson into a basketball court and ESPN has a pretty cool look at the science behind the challenges the players will face in an outside game on a ship. At the bottom of the post there's a video with a look at the special uniforms the Spartans will be wearing that also provides a nice chance to meet a team that is largely unheralded and facing the pre-season #1 team in the nation. A great primer by David Mayo of the Grand Rapids Press begins:

The night before Michigan State’s basketball season ended in March, athletic director Mark Hollis sat in a Tampa hotel, proudly disclosing plans for how this season would begin.

On his tablet, he swiped through artists’ renderings of how the USS Carl Vinson will look Friday night in San Diego Bay, with a temporary basketball arena on its flight deck, where the Spartans play top-ranked North Carolina in their Veterans Day opener, with President Barack Obama and thousands of military personnel dominating the invitation-only crowd.

Read on at the GR Press.

Photo credits

USS Carl Vinson PACIFIC OCEAN (June 3, 2011) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) is underway in the Pacific Ocean. Carl Vinson and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 are underway in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Nicolas C. Lopez/Released) 110603-N-GZ277-247

Michigan State vs. Hillsdale Freshman guard Branden Dawson stretches out for an uncontested dunk early in the game against Hillsdale Friday night at Breslin Center. Dawson netted 10 points for the Spartans in the 80-58 victory. Matt Hallowell/The State News

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X Marks the Spot - TEDxDetroit by slaytercreative

The 3rd annual TEDx Detroit takes place next Wednesday (September 28). TEDx events are locally planned & independently organized, designed to capture the flavor of the incredible TED conferences that bring together the finest minds in the world to share ideas with the power to change attitudes, lives and ultimately, the world.

TEDx Detroit will feature some of the region's leading creators, catalysts, entrepreneurs, artists, technologists, designers, scientists, thinkers and doers sharing what they are most passionate about - positive ideas for the world from Detroit & Michigan. Some of the featured speakers include Julie Clark, a former English and art teacher from Detroit, started The Baby Einstein Company in her basement, Bobby Smith of En Garde Detroit who has used fencing to connect with thousands of kids and Rob Bliss, the 22 year old social event wunderkind Grand Rapids who has created the world's largest pillow fight, zombie walk and LipDub video.

They have closed pre-registration but will announce how to get remaining tickets tomorrow right here, and they will also soon have information about how to watch live on Wednesday! There's more TEDx coming around the state. Check out TEDx Flint (October 22) and stay tuned to Absolute Michigan for information about more!

Here's a video taking you inside a previous TEDx Detroit. You'll also want to check out Why do we produce TEDx Detroit? by Charlie Curve.

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Surfing Michigan by farlane

We've pulled together a great collection of Great Lakes & Michigan surfing videos with a few links:

• The photo was taken on Lake Michigan at Leland. You can see more surfing photos on Michigan in Pictures and also on Northern Michigan Surf on Facebook and in the Surfing slideshow from the Absolute Michigan pool!
• The best of the bunch is below, a TV special on Grand Haven filmmaker Vince Deur's movie Unsalted. the 7 minute short introduces you to the history and present day of Great Lakes surfing. There's also a couple of outtakes that take you to surfing hot spots like Michigan's Lake Superior shore in winter! Last December we ran Michigan Film: Unsalted: A Great Lakes Experience that has all the details (including where to get it!) and tons of clips from the definitive work on riding the freshwater wave.
• The Roxy Get Outside Tour recently visited Grand Haven, Michigan with a couple pro female surfers. They also answered the "Michigan question" and visited the Great Lakes Surf Association (more Michigan footage including waterskiing at the Roxy blog)
• Surfing isn't just for lakes any more, there's also the Grand River Surf (featuring some cool Police tunes...)
• If surfing isn't fast enough (or the waves aren't big enough) there's always kiteboarding. Boarding Lake Michigan Waves from South Beach in South Haven shows you highlights of surfers, kiteboarders and windsurfers. Every September, the King of the Great Lakes Kiteboarding Competition is held in Grand Haven. You can visit Mackinac Kites for information on the event.
• Pure Michigan gets in the act with the Fresh Water Surfing page.
• Check out Absolute Michigan keyword surf for surfing articles and surfing-related businesses! Might as well try Absolute Michigan keyword kiteboard too!

Did we miss something? Of course we did!! Tell us and/or add a link in the comments.

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Painting A Picture Of Optimism by DetroitDerek Photography

Later this week (April 27-29) the 3rd annual  Future Midwest Conference kicks off in Detroit. It's the largest digital business conference in the Midwest and  seeks to accelerate business and cultural transformation by uniting community passions with emerging technologies. In 2011, they've selected Eastern Market in Detroit as the conference venue. In this interview, conference co-founder Adrian Pittman explains that:

FutureMidwest is a digital business conference that focuses on the impact of technology in five areas:

• Integrated marketing: How to integrate digital platforms into a well-rounded marketing mix
• User experience: How to create an engaging experience across a variety of digital media
• Mobile: How it's impacting information exchange and user access and how to utilize it
• Business Intelligence/Analytics: How to define metrics that matter most and apply them
• Regional growth: How the Midwest is participating in the information age

The conference features 2 full days of presentations, panels and exhibitions about technology, social media and how all of this ties into creating a new future for the Midwest. The 2011 conference debuts  Funded by Night, one-day competition to fund tech startups where 25 companies will create to will compete to win a $100,000 convertible note from two local venture capital firms Detroit Venture Partners and Ludlow Ventures.

Any video with a space cow in it has to be good, and the 2010 conference video is no exception!

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The daylong event's theme is designed  to educate, inspire and connect great minds by honoring innovators who have passion, curiosity, creativity and adaptability to change the world with revolutionary ideas. Guest speakers include Carl Ganter, director and co-founder of Circle of Blue; Ellen Gustafson, co-founder of FEED Projects; environmental activist  Peter Sinclair; Dominique Jaurola, founder of Hunome; photojournalist  Paola Gianturco;  James Gartner, television and film director; Carl Erickson, cofounder and president of Atomic Object; American conductor  Kevin Rhodes; author and Great Lakes advocate Jerry Dennis, author; educator  Yong Zhao;  and marine science educator  Teresa Carey who you can learn about in the video below!

TEDx  is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience.  TED started in 1984 as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment and Design. You can click that link for a lot more information and some amazing TED Talks that take you from the deepest caves to the planet Saturn and explore cool innovations such as transforming education with video or Google's driverless car with all kinds of luminaries including Bill Gates (state budgets), Jane Goodall (what separates us from the apes) and web innovator Ze Frank.

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reboot by TerryJohnston

Full Disclosure: I saw these folks in action on the behalf of Absolute Michigan Community sponsor The Center for Michigan and was quite impressed with their work!

Birmingham-based agency Brogan & Partners is offering one small business in Michigan the tools and support to reinvent and refresh its brand through the Michigan Business Reboot Contest. The contest is a chance for Michigan-based businesses to win a $75,000  marketing and public relations makeover  that includes marketing strategy, creative, social media and public relations. The deadline is next Friday (April and all you have to do to enter is to explain in 250 words or less (or with a video) why your company deserves a reboot.

So much of Michigan's current "brand"  is tarnished with the endless stream of cuts and losses that we thought it would be a good idea to ask Brogan's Creative Director Laurie Hix about the assets she thinks Michigan companies should be basing their brands on in 2011:

"Every Michigan's business brand should be based on their competitive differentiator. Of course, that differentiator needs to connect to its target audience, but you can't pander to your audience. Just like a teenager trying to be in the popular group shouldn't try to be something he is not. If it's not based in truth your brand will have no foundation and will crumble. And in today's era of social media you will be called out on it.

So what assets should Michigan companies be basing their brands on? What they excel at and what sets them apart. But admittedly, when you are beaten up like many Michigan businesses feel, sometimes it's hard to step away, look at yourself honestly, peel away the layers and see what makes you different. That is where an agency like ours can help."

Click the button for a shot at a reboot and add any thoughts you might have about the assets YOU are branding on below!

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"Winds of Change" Point Betsie
Lighthouse by Michigan Nut

The Pure Michigan Facebook fan page topped 200,000 fans over the weekend. According to the Street, this makes Pure Michigan one of only four state tourism Facebook pages with more than 100,000 fans and the first state tourism Facebook page with over 200,000 fans:

"We could not be more pleased with the increase of Pure Michigan Facebook fans," said George Zimmermann, Vice President of Travel Michigan, a business unit of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. "As we look ahead to summer travel, our fans are sharing their favorite vacation spots and experiences, which we know will result in new and more visitors to Michigan."

Tourism is a major source of revenue for Michigan's economy. Since its launch in 2006, the award-winning Pure Michigan campaign has attracted seven million new, out-of-state visitors to the Great Lakes State, visitors who spent $2 billion at Michigan businesses and paid $138 million in Michigan taxes, primarily sales tax. The campaign generated $3.29 in tax revenue for the state for each dollar spent on Pure Michigan advertising.

Way to go, Pure Michigan and speaking of Facebook, don't forget the Absolute Michigan and Michigan in Pictures Facebook pages!

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~wine~ by an EyE for perspective

It's probably fitting that the first app we review is from our friends over at Michigan By the Bottle. Their new Michigan By the Bottle app was released yesterday (Dec 14) for iPhone/iPad. The app was developed by Sutro Media and is available for download for $2.99 in the iTunes store.

At the heart of this app are profiles of all of Michigan's 75+ wineries that feature maps, photos, MBTB- ­â€recommended wines, contact information, tasting room policies and links to related articles, videos and podcasts on the MBTB website. One of the coolest features is that via the map, you can see what wineries are near you, check them out to see if they've got what you're looking for and then easily navigate to them using the iPhone's GPS. My company manages the Leelanau Peninsula wine trail, and with all the twists and turns of our trail, that feature alone is worth the $3!

Click the photos below for screen shots...

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Speaking of wine & northwest Michigan, following Lorri & Sharon's article we have a video about an upcoming Tweet & Taste from Michigan By the Bottle with sparkling wines from L Mawby winery that takes place Tuesday, December 14 at 7 PM!

Bowers Harbor Inn gets reinvented into two dining destinations

Old Mission Peninsula by laudu

Visiting various locales for book signings affords us the opportunity to discover new culinary destinations throughout Michigan. We're always on the hunt for good, in-season “eats” and a respectable Michigan wine selection. Knowing our adventures would take us to Bowers Harbor Restaurant for fabulous fare on Saturday night, and recalling our equally delicious meal at the Old Mission Tavern during our last visit, we opted for Bowers Harbor Inn.

When we arrived, we discovered two new signs promoting Mission Table and Jolly Pumpkin restaurants. (Jolly Pumpkin? Don't they make ales?) Apparently, the Inn has been reinvented into two distinct dining destinations. Jolly Pumpkin is the name for a family-friendly dining spot. Exposed wooden beams and chunky wood tables and bar create a warm, cozy ambience to the hum of a well-attended restaurant. Artisan pizzas, Great Lakes perch and wood-fired baby back ribs are just a few offerings. Microbrews are made on site with fresh hops and within a state of the art, 5,600 square-foot brewing (and distilling) facility. Learn more here.

Desiring a slightly quieter vibe, we opted for Mission Table. To our surprise, an enormous captain's table filled the center of one room. Perfect for a party of 18 or small groups dining family-style, the table appealed to our sense of adventure. We promptly requested seats at the farthest end closest to the fireplace.

Perusing the wine list and menu, we noted the strong focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients from local farms and fishermen. The featured Bonafide wines are produced by John Kroupa of nearby Peninsula Cellars winery. Check out the restaurant's list of regional food growers and providers.

Lorri selected Bonafide Dry Riesling. Sharon chose Unwooded Chardonnay by Bowers Harbor Vineyards (also on the peninsula) and paired it with fresh greens from Werp Farms topped with dried cherries and house cherry vinaigrette, followed by walleye atop sautéed Swiss chard, fingerling potatoes, parsnips and citrus beurre blanc ($24). Lorri dined on filet mignon with duck marinade, seasonal veggies and caramelized shallot sauce ($34). Content, relaxed and delighted, we departed back to our overnight accommodations just over the hill.

If you've never been to Old Mission Peninsula, you must. It's one of the most beautiful destinations on earth. We promise; you won't go home hungry with all the delicious dining options on the peninsula. (see Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula and absolutemichigan.com/Old Mission for more!).

Now here's that Tweet & Taste video - check out this Leelanau.com article for more...

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In anticipation of the holidays, the tasting will feature two new sparkling wines from Black Star Farms: 2009 Be Dazzled and 2010 Bubbly Nouveau. Both wines are in their third vintage and the Be Dazzled incorporates both Brut and Demi-Sec styles, while the Bubbly Nouveau is an appetizer style sparkling wine that is fun & fruity.

The event will feature winemaker Lee Lutes and the winery's social media director Coryn Briggs and will last approximately 1 hour with a half hour to discuss each wine via twitter. Both wines will be for sale for $12.50 at all three Black Star Farms' locations and when both wines are purchased for the tasting a 20% discount will be applied. Wines can also be shipped around the state of Michigan as well as to various other states from their online store.

For more information contact, Coryn at 231.944.1311 or cbriggs@blackstarfarms.com.

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Sometimes you have to lead trump, and the best site for Michigan election information is publius.org. The site is fantastic resource. If you go there and enter your name as it appears on your voter registration,   you can see your actual ballot! Ballots have links to the candidate's web site, information about the ballot measures, the salary the candidates will receive if elected and their campaign finance reports! You can even see the location of your polling place and even what machine you'll be voting on and how it works.

The Secretary of State's Election page has a lot of information as well including lobbyist disclosures. Another resource to track the influence of lobbyists and campaign contributions is the Michigan Campaign Finance Network (MCFN). You can get the details on candidate and party spending from MCFN, and their overview notes:

Competition for control of the Michigan House of Representatives is nearly dead-even in campaign finance terms. However, in the contest for control of the Michigan Senate, Republicans have raised twice as much money as Democrats, they've already spent 60 percent more money than Democrats, they have twice as much cash on hand as Democrats, and party support favors Republicans by a wide margin.

...The RGA Michigan PAC, a creation of the Republican Governors Association, has given the Michigan Republican Party $4,036,000 since August 31st, which has, in turn, been spent as independent expenditures supporting Republicans and opposing Democrats. The Michigan RGA PAC has taken in $8.4 million this year, a record for a Michigan PAC, and it reports a cash balance of $1.3 million. The political parties are not required to file any form of balance sheet, so it is impossible to determine what sort of cash reserves the MRP has.

The Center for Michigan has been delivering excellent coverage of Election 2010 including their guide to the race to become Michigan's Governor. You can watch the only debate between Democratic candidate Virg Bernaro and Republican candidate Rick Snyder there or at MIvote.org. Billed as your video guide to the election, MIVote brings solid information to the table about the issues and they also offer a chance for ordinary folks to upload their video thoughts on the election.

mLive's Politics & Elections section is a solid resource and the Freep and Detroit News have their sections as well. You will also want to tune into Michigan Radio's 2010 Election coverage for stories and a look at Proposal 1 asking if the Michigan Constitution should be revamped. Proponents cite our restrictive term limits, tax structure, school funding and the large number of units of local government. Those opposed list re-opening issues already decided by voters, the cost of a constitutional convention and the uncertain climate that such a convention would create for schools and job providers.

The blogs tend to be more partisan, but they also tend to provide livelier reading. On the left side of the aisle, there's MichiganLiberal.com, Blogging for Michigan and the Michigan Senate Democrats blog. On the right, the Michigan Republican Party blog, Right Michigan and Republican Michigander. Somewhere in the middle is my personal favorite, Jack Lessenberry.

We'll close with the recent Gubernatorial Candidate Forum on Michigan's Economic and Environmental Future with Virg Bernero and Rick Snyder presented by the Michigan LCV Education Fund, Detroit Free Press, Michigan Radio and ConservAmerica. It's about 1/2 hour and well worth your time. If there's anything we missed or something you have to say about the 2010 elections, post them in the comments!

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Grand Rapids Chalk Flood 2009
by RichardDemingPhotography

The Detroit News has an interesting feature on how Michigan companies are learning to use Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube and other social media sites. Social media advertising is projected to climb 68% to $7.5 billion this year and jump to $38 billion by 2015, so it's definitely something that savvy business owners need to incorporate into their strategies. David Murray, president of the Social Media Club in Detroit, says:

"Honestly, companies need to stop looking at their customers as numbers, and they need to start looking at them as people," said . "You want to make sure you're not on Facebook just to be on Facebook."

They discuss Nestle's failure in the realm successes and talk about successes by companies like Ford and although they miss Michigan's Twitter leader, Biggby Coffee CEO Bob Fish who uses his biggbybob Twitter to drive traffic as he drives around Michigan, they do feature one of my favorite Michigan companies, Moosejaw*:

Moosejaw has used Twitter numerous times to help customers replace stolen products.

After learning a customer's coat was stolen, Moosejaw asked its Twitter followers to vote on a replacement. Two hundred votes later, the Madison Heights retailer shipped the winning jacket to the customer.

Social media provide an "opportunity to surprise customers and delight them with something unique," Moosejaw spokesman Gary Wohlfeill said.

You can connect with Absolute Michigan on Facebook, join the Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr (there's a great photo contest) and follow me on Twitter! Do you have a story about how YOUR business or organization is using social media?   Share it in the comments!!

* seriously - sign up for their email - you will laugh your head off!

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The USGS Michigan Earthquake Information page has some links to earthquake resources. Their Michigan Earthquake History lists significant earthquakes in Michigan and begins:

The earliest record of earthquake tremors felt in Michigan Territory (statehood came in 1837) were from the great series of shocks centered near New Madrid, Missouri in 1811 and 1812. As many as nine tremors from the New Madrid earthquake series were reported felt distinctly at Detroit.

A damaging earthquake, apparently centered between Montreal and Quebec in the Saint Lawrence Valley, occurred on October 20, 1870. This shock was felt over an area estimated to be at least a million square miles including Sault Sainte Marie...

They have a bit of information on the actual largest earthquake in Michigan history, the 4.6 tremor from August 10, 1947.

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In the Michigan Immense Public Park by farlane

Nearly 2400 photographers have shared over 100,000 photos with Absolute Michigan and Michigan in Pictures in the Absolute Michigan pool. We are ready to go with the next photo contest in Absolute Michigan's Summer Photo Celebration, and we have decided to feature what nearly 8,000 photos in the pool feature, water.

Absolute Michigan's Celebrating Michigan's Water Photo Contest begins today (June 23, 2010) and entries end in a month (July 23, 2010).

Prizes

2 nights for 2 people, any season, subject to availability at The Homestead Resort in Glen Arbor, Michigan. The Homestead is located on the shore of Lake Michigan's Manitou Passage, right across the bay from the largest shifting sand dunes in the world, the Sleeping Bear Dunes. In any season, you'll find rich woods criss-crossed with hiking trails, bike-friendly country roads dotted with barns and farms, wilderness streams & backwoods lakes and miles and miles of secluded, sandy beaches that you can walk for hours. (note: room may not be as pictured)

Crystal River eco-tour for up to 6 people from The River in Glen Arbor. Bald eagles, otters, herons, several species of ducks and geese, deer, possibly a bear or even the elusive cougar may be witnessed along the river and the guide will also fill you in on the local flora and fauna, ecological facts, and even a narrative history of Glen Arbor for the last couple hundred years.

Other prizes as we get them! We are working on more prizes to help you enjoy Michigan's water - if you have a prize to offer, send us an email!

Contest Rules

To enter, all you need to do is add 1-3 photos to our Michigan Water photo group on Flickr.

1. Limit 3 photos per person - you may change photos until July 23.
2. The photos must be of a Michigan lake, river, waterfall, pond or wetland
3. You must own the rights to the photo and have it at a resolution of 1026x768 or greater (the photo doesn 't have to be on Flickr at that size though)
4. Entrants grant Absolute Michigan & Michigan in Pictures rights to publish their photo online with credit and link.
5. Winner grants Absolute Michigan, contest sponsors and online and print media rights to publish photo and their name in articles and features referencing the contest.

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inveiglement by TerryJohnston

In Q&A: Keith Zendler on Detroit's Tipping Point, TIME magazine interviews serial entrepreneur Zendler about his newly launched Peoplemovers.com. It's a free social media venture designed to serve as a kind of Facebook for governments, non-profits, foundations, service clubs, block clubs, school districts, churches, mosques, temples, etc.

Q: What is Peoplemovers.com and why is it needed?

A: This is the next generation of social media. It's great that Facebook and Twitter connects you to everyone you ever knew in the world and family members. But there is still a need for a place where leaders, organizations and the people they serve can connect to each other while working for a greater purpose. If you take all of the issues and challenges we've got out there, in one way or another I think it all boils down to having a “healthy” or strong community. That's what's been fractured here in Detroit and around the world, mainly because we've become so isolated from each other over the years. The idea behind Peoplemovers.com is to create a network where leaders and their organizations can connect, engage and work together to impact their communities. That's something you can believe in no matter what your faith or your politics. The key is to give people and organizations a tool that makes connecting and cooperating easy to do.

Q: What does this provide groups like the City of Detroit?

A: For leaders, it allows them to engage, mobilize and tighten up the smaller communities they already have. And they can do it in cooperation with other organizations and other communities. This way, they are all strengthened. When it comes to cities, it means that every neighborhood association, block club, business, non-profit, school, house of worship and every person can be directly connected to city hall AND EACH OTHER.

Read more at TIME.

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"I started Real Time Farms because I wanted to create a dynamic, exciting, and information-rich way to connect consumers to fresh sources of food. I noticed that while there was an increasing number of wonderful farmer's markets, farm stands, and locally-sourced restaurants and grocers around the country, there didn't seem to be a coherent, real-time, information-rich way to view what was available. I believe that when people know more about where their food comes from, they are led naturally towards choices that are healthiest for themselves and the environment."

Anyone can post photos of their favorite market, vendor, or farm stand by simply uploading photos from their camera or emailing photos with their smartphone to share@realtimefarms.com. The site already features tagged photos from numerous people of market stalls and produce from Ann Arbor, Traverse City and other locations around the state and country. You can also see collections of photos at each market or farm, find out what restaurants and grocers the farms source and learn who produces everything from basil to beef.

Head over to realtimefarms.com (twitter/facebook) to get started and also check out this article from AnnArbor.com.

Dig into Michigan farms and farmers markets on Absolute Michigan.

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View from Chateau Chantal by troyryans

Their next Tweet & Taste takes place tomorrow night (Monday Jun 7 @ 8 PM). Sorry about the late notice. Featured will be the wines of the Old Mission Peninsula near Traverse City. The wines they will be tasting are:

• 2 Lads 2009 Pinot Grigio
• Black Star Farms Sirius Cherry Dessert Wine
• Bowers Harbor Vineyards 2006 2896 Langley (Meritage)
• Chateau Chantal 2009 Pinot Grigio
• Chateau Grand Traverse 2008 Ship of Fools
• Brys Estate 2007 Signature Red
• Peninsula Cellars - 2006 Gewurztraminer

Over at #TTMI on Twitter, Michigan Master Sommelier   Claudia Tyagi aka winegenie is educating folks on the wines of Old Mission. Here's a couple tweets - definitely try and pick up one or more of the bottles above and take part - it's fun and you can do it in your PJs! (check the video below for a step by step explanation of TTMI).

RT @cortcase @tweetandtastemi: Read up on Wineries of Old MIssion Peninsula to prepare for TTMI WOMP on Monday #ttmi http://ow.ly/1Utz0

CGT began it all http://ow.ly/1UJ8C 1st OMP winery, 1st Vinifera #ttmi Leadership! #wine #Michigan Go Riesling!!!!

For more about the Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula, see their web site at wineriesofoldmission.com and also check out this Winery Report on the Old Mission from Toledo Wines & Vines.

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Connect Michigan has announced that 95.41% of Michigan households have access to the minimum threshold for broadband at 768Kbps downstream. Just under 175 thousand Michigan households remain unserved other than by mobile wireless or satellite service. The image to the right shows the availability of fixed wireless, one of many options including cable, DSL, fiber & mobile service that you can explore through the Interactive Michigan Broadband Map. They plan to also offer data on internet & broadband adoption as well as computer ownership.

Connect Michigan's news release states that the maps were created through a partnership between the Michigan Public Service Commission and the national nonprofit Connected Nation. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act requires the Commerce Department to create a searchable national broadband map and make it publicly available by Feb. 17, 2011. In addition to offering a map of current connectivity:

Connected Nation's GIS team will continuously refine the maps as more data is gathered - relying upon citizen feedback as part of the validation process. Residents, businesses, and any interested party with knowledge of the state broadband landscape are asked to go to Connect Michigan's website to provide input that will be used to verify and ensure the highest level of accuracy for the broadband maps.

On Connectmi.org, those who do not currently have broadband access can add their name and address to a secure database of households that would like to subscribe if given the opportunity. The collected information supports the creation of the broadband inventory map that will assist in expanding broadband delivery to residents across the state.

There are also detailed county maps showing broadband inventory and the density of households unserved by a broadband provider along with a a statewide map displaying rural and non-rural areas eligible for stimulus funding, a great tool for applicants submitting for broadband stimulus grants and loans.

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Return to Chapel Rock by farlane

Sometime over the weekend, the 100,000th photo was added to the Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr.

One hundred thousand.

What an amazing gift you nearly 2400 photographers have shared with Absolute Michigan and Michigan in Pictures over the last four and a half years. Whether it's dandelions or Detroit Lions, hill sides or mud slides, if it's Michigan, chances are we have a photo of it.

This is something so big that we really need more than a simple blog post to celebrate it, so we're announcing the Absolute Michigan Summer Photo Celebration in which we'll try and give you Absolute Michigan pool photographers as much recognition and as many prizes as we can. Follow us all summer long for themed photo contests, special offers from Michigan businesses and lots of photographic fun!

We're opening with the Michigan Business Photo Contest for photos that promote Michigan businesses or buying from Michigan businesses.

You may submit up to 3 photos that show any facet of any Michigan-based business or somehow promote Michigan businesses and buying from Michigan businesses.

Please add them to the Michigan Business Photo Contest group (you can also post small versions & comments about them here!)

The contest deadline is Monday, June 14th and the winner will receive:

• One year Michigan SEO and Category Sponsorship package on Absolute Michigan ($1250 value)
• A Private Label Radio Program that tells the story of your business courtesy of Vertio
• 2 pounds of coffee (your choice) from Higher Grounds Trading Company
• ... plus other business related prizes that we can find between now and June 7th!

This prize is only the first - stay tuned to Absolute Michigan all summer long for more great contests!

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We're live at: #ttmi

Had enough wine?? by pipefiddle

Next Tuesday (April 13, 2010) at 8 PM EST you can join Michigan by the Bottle for their Tweet & Taste with Shady Lane winemaker Adam Satchwell, a master sommelier and several Michigan wine bloggers to explore a select group of wines from Shady Lane Cellars and share tasting notes and impressions on Twitter. To participate, all you need to do is pick up the three wines (Shady Lane Cellars 2008 Dry Riesling, 2008 Blue Franc, 2007 Pinot Noir) at your local wine shop or online at Shady Lane Cellars (1 cent shipping through April 13) and then log on to Twitter Tuesday night and share your impressions using the #ttmi hash tag.

If you're in the Traverse City area, you can also join Absolute Michigan beginning at 7 PM on Tuesday at our new offices at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons for our "tweet-in" with winemaker Adam Satchwell! We're located right next to Salon de Capelli in Building 50 (we promise Google will have us mapped soon) and you can call us at 231-421-1172 if you get lost!

Speaking of Traverse City and Michigan by the Bottle, tomorrow night (Friday, Apr 9) from 6-9, they will be doing a podcast taping and interview   (see Facebook for the details) with owner/wine-maker Bryan Ulbrich. There will be some tasty food for snacking along with $3 pints of Cinnamon Girl Hard Cider and $3 glasses of new release Riesling MD from the big tank in their tasting room. The Wurlitzer will be on free play all night and who knows - you might become a star in the Michigan by the Bottle taping!

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Grand River - Bike Girl
by Andy Tanguay

In Weekly Chatter: Google gets biking, mile-taxing, People for Bikes, Gary writes: The big news for bicycling this week: Google celebrates the Bicycle route

And, Traverse City is one of the first 150 cities to be included. My first attempt with Google bicycle routes was a little disappointing–it took me several blocks out of my way, similar to the cynical bicyclists perspective. Yet, improvements are coming, and in typical Google fashion they rolled it out in Beta (for more tweaking) and they launched it at the 2010 Bike Summit in Washington, D.C.

I'll break in here with a link to a Google ride from the Mackinac Bridge to Detroit. I tried starting in Copper Harbor but anything north of the Bridge they route to the car ferry in Manitowac (though actually, it looks like a great trip!)

But, let's remember. It's all for fun. Even when you're trying to get somewhere. This week People for Bikes was launched in hopes to cover the full gamut of the experience as this PSA expresses…

“If I ride…I will grow a heart so strong, that hospitals will take Tuesdays off…”

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I've decided to follow someone at random. She likes peanut butter and gummy dinosaurs. Sarah Killen, your life is about to change.
~Conan O'Brien

On Conan's Twitter page he says "I had a show. Then I had a different show. Now I have a Twitter account." While he boasts a whopping 625,924 Twitter followers, he's only following one. Now Sarah has 24,000 followers (and climbing).

Follow Sara's saga at twitter.com/LovelyButton.

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Power: Lake Huron

Langell Boys, frozen in the ice on Saginaw Bay. A series of photos from otisourcat showing the efforts to free her from the ice. Ice has long been a power on the Great Lakes that has locked ships in their harbors (or worse) and even come after those on shore.

Silence: Lake Erie

Daryl's photo of the ice on Lake Erie and demonstrates how winter turns our vibrant lakes to beautiful deserts. See more in his winter slideshow. In addition to quieting the waves, ice can provide an opportunity for animals (and crazy people) to get across to places they wouldn't normally be able to. While this guy walked to Canada on purpose, these fishermen went on an impromptu ice ride.

Motion: Lake Michigan

Photographer/videographer Ken Scott assembled some timelapse clips of winter from the shoreline of Lake Michigan. The movement of the water creates some amazing formations like ice bergs, ice volcanoes and things that you can't quite name ... and you haven't really seen a lighthouse until you've seen what ice can do to a Great Lakes Light.

Breakup: Lake Superior

Jim Sisko, a photographer from the Absolute Michigan pool, does an amazing job of chronicling the ice on Lake Superior. After looking at these, it's a little surprising to see in this NOAA satellite image that the hold of winter is even starting to loosen on Lake Superior.

I hope that the fact you can see the Apostle Islands in that satellite photo is justification enough to send you over to check out the sights and sounds from Marlin Ledin's ride to the Apostle Islands across 150 miles of Lake Superior.

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Scroll down to tell folks in the comments. Please keep them brief and friendly! Subscribe to Michitwitter via RSS or check out Absolute Michigan on Twitter!

Photo: You with the camera, enough pictures!! by Daylily18

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This holiday we thought we'd record a couple of Christmas songs with this talented group of friends to share with you all. It's a project we've all talked about for years, but something about 2009 made us all a little more thankful than ever for each other and spurred us to action. Maybe it's the ugly economy, an uglier war, the ugliest Detroit Lions…swine flu, who knows. Perhaps it was simply an excuse to make time out of our increasingly busy lives to celebrate our friendships and simply be together.

Happy holidays from Absolute Michigan!

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Check out this cool YouTube preview:

Get Google Earth right here and check out Google Earth Blog for tons more about Google's amazing 3D browser.

Photo: Planet Detroit by paulhitz

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Russell Leavenworth founded Leavenworth Photography in 1895. For twenty-five years, he photographed the booming lumber and mining industries of northern Michigan. His photographic subjects would change drastically in 1919. That year, Lansing industrial giants vacationing in northern Michigan persuaded Leavenworth to photograph their city's burgeoning manufacturing industries. Leavenworth's business prospered, as REO, Oldsmobile and other large industrial firms became clients. Leavenworth and his son-in-law/business partner Hiram Maple expanded the commercial photography business to include “subjects as diverse as street scenes, car parts, workers' strikes, vaudeville troupes and football games, Leavenworth lived up to the slogan plastered on the door of his company car: “Anything photographed, anywhere, anytime.”

Cold Storage

To ensure that R.C. Leavenworth's valuable negatives will not degrade, the Archives of Michigan has begun to preserve them. The Archives does this through cold storage, using the Critical Moisture Indicator (CMI) packaging method. This process involves placing the negatives in an airtight polyethylene bag and storing the package in specially designed archival storage boxes. Two four-ply matboards are microwaved for thirty seconds to remove moisture, and the sealed bag is placed between the matboards in the storage boxes. These boxes are then carefully labeled for future accessibility and sealed in a polyethylene bag with silica gel to prepare them for cold storage. A box in cold storage need only be defrosted for three hours to safely view the negatives. The CMI packaging method protects the negatives for several years against moisture and humidity, until they have to be repackaged. Using this process, the Archives of Michigan has successfully processed 120 boxes of Leavenworth's negatives for Oldsmobile, REO Motor Car Company and Lansing Board of Water & Light.

When Negatives Go Bad

Due to improper storage and excessive heat and humidity, portions of the Leavenworth collection have been damaged. Nitrate negatives too deteriorated to identify or save are safely discarded in a large hazardous materials storage bin. Nitrate negatives must be properly disposed because they can actually self-ignite if the temperature rises above 106 degrees Fahrenheit for a sustained period of time. Damaged safety film negatives must be properly discarded as well due to “vinegar syndrome.” Vinegar syndrome is the term to describe, “the chemical reaction occurring during the natural deterioration of triacetate film base in a sealed container.” The degradation of cellulose triacetate combined with moisture forms acetic acid and a pungent odor. Damaged negatives that can be scanned were digitized to preserve the image before their disposal. The Archives of Michigan documented discarded negatives using a Microsoft Access database that identifies the negative's number, former box location, and subject.

Click through to Seeking Michigan to see a step-by-step look at how nitrate film deteriorates (scroll down). You can also see some of Leavenworth's commercial photography in Oldsmobile in Pictures.

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