This one is inspired by Deidre, who links my blog and I didn't even know it. I enjoy happy surprises like that.
Michigan Things is one of my most hit on categories here. Normally, I highlight things relevant to my town and county. Occasionally I touch upon general Michigan things.
Here are a few more Michigan Things.
Michael Moore Is From Michigan.
Flint, to be precise. I'm not sure if he still has a house somewhere in Michigan but I am guessing not. Then again, he could very well be living in the Flint area and just blend into the general Fat White Guy With Sweats And A Ball Cap category at the local Meijer's.
I like Michael Moore's films. I find them to be very humorous. However, you have to take them with a large grain of salt, like that sea salt I get from France that is like salt nuggets type size grains of salt. Why? Because he edits them to suit his message. There have been many threats of lawsuits for misrepresentation and indeed, I think James Nichols, Terry Nichols' crazy brother, tried to sue him for his portrayal in Bowling For Columbine. I could go find an article and link it, but that's not how we work here. I'm too lazy for most links and we're on the honor system, anyway.
Michael Moore films to watch while holding a handful of salt:
Roger And Me
The first and still the best in my opinion. This film depicts Moore trying to secure an interview with Roger Smith, then the head of GM who ordered the plant closings in Flint, which devastated an already depressed area. Characters not to be missed: The Blood Plasma Guy, The Nutty Bunny Lady (fur or dinner, you decide!) and the dude from the Newlywed Game. Pat Eubanks?
Bowling For Columbine
Moore explores the gun culture in America, including a bank in Michigan that gives away a shotgun when you open an account. The bank was in Traverse City. The bank, I do remember, was quite pissed at the biased depiction they were given since it was totally taken out of context. The Charlton Heston episodes are ironic and funny and very mean spirited and Charlton Heston comes off as a total nutbag. Cool theme song, Camper Van Beethoven , Take The Skinheads Bowling.
Fahrenheit 9/11
Don't watch this one with a salt shaker in your hand, get the salt block, like you would put out for your horse. Funny, pissed a lot of people off, but not grounded in reality and edited like crazy.
Don't get me wrong. I think Michael Moore is funny. I don't think he should be taken any more seriously than the Star or the National Enquirer, though. I admire that he is trying and affecting American political culture and getting people interested.
Please note that these are MY OPINIONS and this is MY BLOG. Okay? Okay. Simmer down.
The Car Culture
Michigan is home to the Big Three. Many of us have family and friends who have earned several generations of livelihood through Ford, Chrysler or GM. Much of Michigan is very dependent upon the automakers all the way down the food chain; the engineers designing the cars and their various systems and parts, the designers who do the mock ups of the cars, the people who decide what color the cars will be, the advertising involved, the companies that supply the parts to make the cars, the trains and trucks that haul the cars, the support business around these other companies from the local bar across from the plants to the local Meijer's.
In Michigan, you are what you drive. And it's generally an American made car made by one of the Big Three. Can't pass up that discount, you know! Bonus if you get all three discounts (like I do) and can be a total whore when car shopping. ("Well, I have the X Plan at Ford, how much are you going to give me off on the GM thing? Oh REALLY?" followed by hysterical laughter while I seductively toy with the card from the local Chrysler dealer.)
The Car Culture is big. It is archetypal of Michigan that you will find a Corvette parked outside of a run down single-wide in the trailer park. (Yes, I owned a Corvette. No, I didn't live in a trailer. )
I'm willing to write more Michigan Things but can use a little more inspiration, gentle readers. Been pondering an entry on the Oakland County Child Killer. Any other Michigan ideas?