Vos Virtual Network » Michiganology

Colorful Michigan Autumn

admin — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:35:58 +0000

Autumn on Flickr – Follow GR58′s photostream.

Debate: Hoogendyk vs. Levin

admin — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 21:28:20 +0000

Did you watch the debate between Carl Levin and Jack Hoogendyk for the US Senate?

I love the way Jack Hoogendyk answers questions. Jack’s ideas are great, his ethical standards are high. I think Jack will be a great replacement for Carl Levin.

Here’s a link to the debate that was held recently at the Detroit Economic Club – you can watch a replay of the streaming video. It will also be broadcast again in the Detroit area on Channel 56 this Sunday, October 26, at 4 pm.

You can watch another debate (between Carl Levin and Jack Hoogendyk) that was held in Grand Rapids, Michigan (on Sunday, October 19, 2008) on the WGVU web video channel – Decision 2008 US Senatorial Debate.

Under the Overpass – by the Railroad Tracks

admin — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:35:21 +0000

Under the overpass after an autumn rain, by the railroad tracks.
I-96 at the Southfield Freeway. Detroit, Michigan. October 2007.

From G. S. George’s Flickr Photostream.

Southwest Colors in Detroit’s Mexican Town

admin — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 11:30:37 +0000

Check out Cris R’s photostream on Flickr.

Detroit Jazz Festival 2007

admin — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 12:23:59 +0000

After getting a great response from the stuff we posted about the 2008 Detroit Jazz Festival, decided to see what we could find (in the YouTube archive) about previous Detroit Jazz Festivals.

Here’s a sweet compilation of scenes and sounds from the Detroit Jazz Festival 2007.

Watch closely, and you’ll see Mr. Travelin Blues show up on this flick too!

Detroit Welcomes New Mayor

admin — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 13:59:25 +0000

Nearly 1,000 people showed up in support of new Detroit Mayor Ken Cockrel Jr. at Wayne State University … story in Free Press says it’s a new era, a new beginning for Detroit.

More Images from Detroit 2008 Jazz Festival

admin — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:03:31 +0000

More images of the Detroit 2008 International Jazz Festival continue to emerge — a couple weeks after the event — as people get a chance to upload them to Flickr, etc.

Mary Oliver and Wolter Wierbos at Detroit Jazz Festival 2008

You can find more photos by following Juan N’s photo stream on Flickr.

This photo was taken at the Detroit International Jazz Festival on September 1, 2008

Obama – It’s Time for Kwame to Step Down

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:56:42 +0000

The choir is growing louder asking Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to step down. Google’s news index is showing 4,003 news articles. (And when that happens it’s an indicator that every major newspaper in the world is reporting a similar news item.) Nobody wants that kind of negative news to go on for 2 more weeks, so people are expecting that big news will be announced today. (e.g. a plea bargain)

Kwame Kilpatrick in the news

Recently adding his voice to the choir according to Detroit Free Press - Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.

The Free Press says the mayor could plead guilty this morning at 9:00AM

Obama Endorses Kwame Kilpatrick

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:29:24 +0000

YouTube – Obama Endorses Kwame Kilpatrick.

Derek Trucks Band – Live at Detroit Jazz Fest

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 01:05:18 +0000

This is Derek Trucks and his band playing “I Wish I Knew” – recorded live at the 29th Detroit International Jazz Festival, September 1, 2008.

The full title of the song is “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free”.

I wish I knew how it would feel to be free
I wish I could break all the chains holding me
I wish I could say all the things that I should say …

The song was written by Dr. Billy Taylor (along with Dick Dallas?) back in 1954. It was originally recorded by Nina Simone in 1967 on her Silk and Soul album. Billy Taylor also recorded his own instrumental version back in 1967. He said that he wrote the song (perhaps his best known composition) for his daughter Kim, describing it as a very spiritual song.

“I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free” was used as a theme song on the BBC, a theme song for the 2004 Olympics, as music for a Coca-Cola commercial, and also served as an anthem for the civil-rights movement.

The video quality (on this youtube video) is not that great, but I think it’s the perfect way to close out this labor day weekend I Love Detroit series, and as Mike Mattison sings at the end of the video — Everyone Should Be Free!

It’s just like Donald Miller said in Blue Like Jazz: “jazz music was invented by the first generation out of slavery… it is very hard to put on paper; it is so much more a language of the soul … It is a music birthed out of freedom.”