high school springtime bloom of college declarations

At this rural mid-Michigan high school the visible, public statement of one's college intentions or confirmations of admission acceptance helps to motivate others who are ambivalent about applying, aspiring, or altogether unsure which way to proceed in their life's journey; not just the younger students who look up to the high school seniors, but among the graduating class itself.

springtime scene - student lockers in one high school; click image for full view

School bully business

As long as there has been status posturing, competitiveness, inclusion and exclusion social boundaries the practice of one to one or many against one, active or passive bullying has existed. Now there are efforts being made to ease the pressures and break open the closed circle of bad behavior by using texting and other electronic communication and documentation methods. These two glimpses of the campaigns were on display in one rural high school during the middle of March 2016

 (click image for full-size view)

St. Patrick in USA, Erin Go Bragh? (may Eire live forever)

creative commons search result at flickr.com, "St. Patricks parade"

 Looking around the hallway of the nearby high school between classes as students stream past, one can see many teens and a few staff and faculty with some token of green clothing or accessory. How unusual that this saint's day should be a public event with some foregrounding of ethnic membership. Every other day of the year has one or more saints associated with it, some of which carry resonance to specific ethnic groups, but yet the greeting card industry, candy manufacturers, news media, t-shirt makers, and so on do not get equally exercised about the spectacle. What seems particularly interesting from an anthropological viewpoint is the ambivalence of ethnicity: some might express pride in family history that has some direct or indirect link to the island of Ireland, whether the polity of north or south. Others may be less ready to emphasize DNA and be glad to count themselves as "Irish for a day" and join in the general fun of the day as a sort of culturally, not ethnicly, member who belongs with the rest. But considering the vast ebb and flood of populations displaced from home grounds, it is likely that many more have ancestors who had roots in Ireland somewhere along the way. Still, it does seem odd that this day offers a low bar to ethnic membership and other days do not have a similar expression; could there ever be in USA anything that takes up similar space in the public discourse of commercial and popular culture - such as Myanmar Day, or France Day, or Mexico Day?
For a worldwide view of proceedings and changes in meanings, see the final paragraph of the blog article for the American Anthropological Association, http://blog.americananthro.org/2016/03/17/sham-and-the-rock-on-17th-march-st-patricks-day/

foodways, folk decoration of commercial building

This site appears to have sprung up as filling station and repair shop from automobiles of the 1920s onward. Then around 1964 it became an eatery and since 2004 the present owners have run the place, named Golden Harvest and specializing in breakfast and lunch, with a half-dozen daily specials either sweet or savory, as well as made to order menu items. None of the experience is rushed; quite the opposite. Lovingly prepared big plates are served well after an order is placed.
     Sometimes a person applies a forest of bumper stickers to a car; or cements figures onto a car's surface, but a similar approach to the building walls seems to be rarer, still. This view of the entry and east facing wall are a sample. Since waiting lines typically run out the door at all hours of business and in all kinds of weather, this visual diversion is not only a creative outlet for the foodies inside, but also a kindness for those in line who have active imaginations! The close-up of one of that day's specials shows the Rubenesque Omelet.

thar she blows - wind turbines of Gratiot County, Michigan

As seen Wednesday, June 10, driving north on US-127 (click image for full size view with turbines on horizon, above the road line.

towering wind turbines on the horizon

In this flat landscape of steady winds the renewable source of wind power makes sense, although for local and migrating birds the moving blades are a worry. And for residents downwind the sound carries. One person spoke of wintertime ice building up under certain conditions and then potentially launching off the swinging propeller to land like some sort of modern-day catapult projectile.

celebratory parade of affirmation - Sikh religious communities of Michigan come to Lansing

Looking up from the bookstore/cafe at Lansing Community College one spring day in 2014 (4/26), the lines of people of all ages in ethnic clothing and ordinary clothing walked by en route to the state capitol building one Saturday morning. Generally there is not a lot of public visibility of Sikhs on the airwaves or public spaces, so this event was a good chance for those walking to affirm their place in the state; and a good chance for those passers-by to see them, as well.
     How might the role of public visibility differ in a society other than USA, where such public statements are allowed, routine and perhaps expected as a way of self-assertion and existential expression?

talent show of 12 performances

From a yearly contest of numerous high schools in middle Michigan, here are images from each act. The young people have plenty of amateur talent and sometimes pour a lot of time and money into their love of expression. For the mostpart the audience of peers was quiet and respectful, with occasional chit-chatting or hub-bub breaking through the spell of the performers. Students on stage came from Ovid-Elsie, Breckenridge, St. Louis and Birch Run schools.

And here are a couple of video clips from the same event.

"farmers' market" at newly rebuilt Lansing City Market

24 April thronged with the great and small: a slight consciousness about knowing one's food sources and makers is growing. And the conversations along the way are an added quality of life issue for more and more people who make time for driving, biking or walking to the City Market in Lansing, Michigan. Credit Michael Pollan in large part for this public interest, www.michaelpollan.com, with his several books about food and society these days.

big box foodstore takes local business away

Local grocery chain of six supermarkets closes another of its locations in middle Michigan, USA.

closed for business

Across the road is a Midwest chain of really big stores that buys in greater volume and negotiates with vendors more stringently than the locally based food stores. Perhaps shoppers will one day deliberately do business at small but more expensive places for reasons other than price tag, such as supporting local owners and workers: less automation may appear less economically efficient, but then there are other factors in a person's livelihood than dollars and cents.

high school contest to decorate classroom doors - Hallowe'en

around October 28 the judges went round the halls of the school to award top rank to best decorated doors: this one is far better than most (in fact it appeared that fewer than 1/2 the rooms participated), but not the top place. On the Friday (10/30, last day of school before the actual day, Oct. 31) a number of students and a few teachers also dressed in costume or parts of costume in keeping with the halloween theme. I was not at this school on the Friday, but at a different high school instead.