People who buy an Element Electronics flat screen television in the near future will be able to watch Chrysler’s “Imported From Detroit” commercials on a television that was actually made in Detroit. When production starts up this March, Element Electronics will be the only television manufacturer assembling their televisions in the United States.

Sure would be nice if we start to see a trend of a return to companies manufacturing here in the U.S. instead of overseas.

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Continuing the line of “Imported From Detroit” commercials is the brand new “See it Through” commercial that will make its national debut this Thursday during the Detroit Lions annual Thanksgiving Day game. You can read the text of the poem “See it Through” by Edgar Guest below the embedded video.

When you’re up against a trouble,
Meet it squarely, face to face;
Lift your chin and set your shoulders,
Plant your feet and take a brace.
When it’s vain to try to dodge it,
Do the best that you can do;
You may fail, but you may conquer,
See it through!
Black may be the clouds about you
And your future may seem grim,
But don’t let your nerve desert you;
Keep yourself in fighting trim.
If the worst is bound to happen,
Spite of all that you can do,
Running from it will not save you,
See it through!

Even hope may seem but futile,
When with troubles you’re beset,
But remember you are facing
Just what other men have met.
You may fail, but fall still fighting;
Don’t give up, whate’er you do;
Eyes front, head high to the finish.
See it through!

For kids growing up during the late 1960′s into the early 1980′s in the Metro Detroit area were treated to goblins, ghouls, and other monsters via the host of the local show, Sir Graves Ghastly. The host of the show, Lawson J. Deming, aka Sir Graves Ghastly passed away on April 24, 2007. Unfortunately, the original tapes were not saved so whatever is on the internet is about all that is left of this classic old show.

As it is nearly Halloween, I thought it appropriate to show a clip from one of his shows.

I took my dad to see his first Detroit Tigers playoff game this past Tuesday. We had an awesome time in Detroit and the Tigers helped cap things off with a thrilling victory over the Texas Rangers.

Here’s a list of my highlights:

• Aretha Franklin singing the National Anthem. Was it my favorite version? No, but it was Aretha Franklin – the Queen of Soul.
• Joel Zumaya delivering the game ball. I had goosebumps when the strains of Hendrix’s ‘Voodoo Child’ started playing over the loudspeakers.
• Magglio Ordonez limping onto the field to huge cheers during pregame introductions. It nearly brought me to tears.
• Home runs. They are a deliciously sweet thing when hit by your favorite team.
• The crowd singing along to Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing”.
• Dinner at Fishbones in Greektown.
• A quick ride from the parking ramp to Greektown and then back to Comerica Park on The People Mover. Better than walking, plus I got a quick tour of Detroit’s downtown. It only costs $.50 per ride. How does this thing not get more riders?

Oh, and today in Detroit Tigers history – this little gem happened .

1. Color Cruise and Island Festival, Grand Ledge – 10/7 – 10/9/11. Cider pressing, weaving, spinning, and wood carving are just some of the “old time” skills you will see demonstrated this weekend.
2. Fort Fright at Fort Michilimackinac, Mackinaw City – 10/7 10/8/11. 6:30 to 9:30 each evening walk amongst the lantern-lit paths and see this historic fort in a frightening new way.
>Frankfort Fall Festival – 10/8/11. Two words – Pumpkin. Catapults.
3. UPtoberfest, Escanaba – 10/8/11 from 2pm to 7pm.
4. Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival, Alpena – 10/6 – 10/9/11.

And in case you haven’t noticed – Michigan’s beautiful fall colors are upon us!

This brief video shows a huge waterspout that formed over Lake Michigan on Saturday. Evidently atmospheric conditions were perfect for generating waterspouts. “An unstable mix of cool autumn air and warm lake waters spawned dozens of tornadic funnel clouds” per this Rueters article.

Crazy.

Over 800 antique tractors will parade across the Mackinac Bridge this Friday, September 16th. The parade begins in Mackinaw City at approximately 9am and will head north over the bridge, through St. Ignace, and finish at Kewadin Shores Casino. You will also be able to view the antique tractors on September 16th & 17th at the casino grounds.

The parade will go on rain or shine, but will be cancelled if there are winds in excess of 35 m.p.h. There is no makeup date for this event.

For more details on this event check out www.bobstractorpartscorner.com

From antique tractors to Civil War reenactors, there are lots of great events across Michigan this weekend. Have fun!

1. Antique Engine and Tractor Show – Bangor, 9/8 – 9/11/11. Admission is $6 and ages 12 and under are free.
2. Hiawatha Paddling Festival – Les Cheneaux Islands, Upper Peninsula of Michigan. 9/9 – 9/11/11.
3. The Michigan Schooner Festival – Traverse City – 9/9 – 9/11/11. Schooner tours & sailing, pancakes with Pirates breakfast, and plenty of activities for kids.
4. U.P. Beer Fest – Marquette – 9/10/11.
5. Michigan 16th Infantry Civil War Reenactors – Mackinac Island – 9/10 – 9/11/11. The 16th Michigan Company reenactors will depict the Stanton Guard and the 3rd U.S. Infantry as they were hosted at Fort Mackinac.

We’ll kick things off with this slideshow from last year’s Porcupine Mountains Music Festival –

1. Kalamazoo Scottish Festival – 8/27/11. Come see the tossing of the haggis this Saturday in Kalamazoo.
2. Civil War Muster in Jackson. Come visit Michigan’s oldest and largest Civil War Reenactment.
3. Porcupine Mountains Music Festival – 8/26 – 8/28/11.
4. Movies By The Bay in St. Ignace. The movie for 8/28 is Secretariat. This event is free and begins at approximately 10pm.
5. Traverse City Microbrew and Music Festival – 8/26 – 8/27/11.

Summer is winding down. School will be back in session before you know it. But that hasn’t slowed down the number of festivals and events taking place all across Michigan this weekend.

1. Mackinac Island Fudge Festival – 8/19 – 8/20/11. Get your fill of fudge this weekend by tasting some Mackinac Island Fudge Stout Beer, crazy fudge drink combinations, a dinner with fudge (of course) as the theme, and much more chocolate-related fun.
2. Take your kids to A Day Out With Thomas at Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad – 8/19 – 8/20/11.
3. Southeast Michigan Civil War Remembrance Tour – Metro Detroit – 8/20/11. “Join David Ingall, a Civil War expert and former assistant director of the Monroe County Historical Museum, and traverse a historic trail created by linking local monuments, museum exhibits, markers, forgotten landmarks, forts, and grave sites centered on this pivotal period in American history.”
4. National Pickle Festival in Linwood – 8/19 – 8/21/11. Parade, car show, entertainment, kid rides, and (of course) free pickles.
5. Pure Michigan 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 8/21/11 at 1pm. I’m guessing that in addition to some great racing you will see a lot of ads for Pure Michigan .