Above our heads, an epic chase ensues. According to Greek mythology, Laelaps was a dog without an equal. It always caught whatever it hunted and was among the most reliable beings on Earth. The wily Teumessian fox, on the other hand, was the exact opposite. Sly and conniving, it caused all sorts of mischief on Earth and Olympus and it seemed that nothing could catch it. Zeus, finally fed up with the fox’s antics, called on Laelaps to put an end to the chicanery. The hunt began in earnest with Laelaps nipping at the fox’s heels immediately; but the fox continued to stay out of his reach. The chase continued for years until Zeus realized that they both would be doomed for eternity to be hunter and hunted, so he turned them both to stone and placed them in the sky as the constellations known as Canis Major (Laelaps) and Canis Minor (the Teumessian fox). The chase continues through today, as Canis Minor rises in the winter sky approximately one hour before Canis Major each night.
In the beginning of 1951, GM’s Chevrolet arm was floundering. Sales were dropping and consumers were losing interest. At the suggestion of a friend, GM Design Chief Harley Earl changed his focus. Sports cars were all the rage in Europe and Earl wanted a part of the excitement. Later that year, he assigned a small team of GM designers to work on a Eurostyle two-seater, bringing in a Jaguar XK120 for study. Dubbed “Project Opel,” the team worked on a multitude of designs.
Before Flint United, Flint City Bucks, the Firebirds and even the Generals, baseball ruled the day in the city. Playing all games at Atwood Stadium, the first minor league team to play in Flint was the Flint Flyers, playing one season (1889-90). Next, the Flint Vehicles took the field and were a mainstay for 20-years, playing competitive ball from 1906-26. Baseball took a small hiatus from the city during the Great Depression but roared back in 1940, when the Cleveland Indian-affiliated Flint Gems won the Michigan State League Pennant with a record of 67-41. The team became the Flint Arrows for the 1941 season and once again won the league championship, finishing 70-38. Playoffs were canceled due to the impending world war.
Long ago, when the world was young, the Sun traveled on her journey through the sky and looked down upon the people of the Middle World. She hoped to see lovely people, but all she could see was squinted, frowning faces. She spoke to her brother, the Moon, about the ugly faces of the people of the Middle World and the Moon laughed. He told the Sun that he felt that the people were quite handsome, for when they looked up at him at night, they always wore a pleasant smile. This made the Sun very angry. She began to resent her brother and the people of the Middle World for loving him much more than her and she vowed to put an end to them.
When The Hobbit was released in 1937, it was met with near unanimous critical acclaim. With one story, J. R. R. Tolkien re-invented the fantasy genre. The characters, the races, the history, the world he invented dazzled adults and children. His follow-up trilogy, The Lord of the Rings cemented his standing of one of the world’s greatest fantasy authors. He would go on to produce many more tales with most of his works being released posthumously. His books continue to influence fantasy writers, movies and games (Dungeons & Dragons) nearly 50 years after his death. The impact of Tolkien upon our world cannot be ignored.
For most, the birth of a new year means a new beginning, a positive outlook. We leave the old year behind (good riddance) and look toward a bright future. We make plans, create new goals and reevaluate where we are and where we’re headed. For the majority of 2020, where we were was home and (for some) where we were headed was “to work.” We all wanted to get away … but couldn’t. Our trips and vacations were canceled, pastimes and gatherings limited and, although the pandemic continues, the new year brings hope for a return to normalcy. Who’s to say we won’t be able to visit a distant shore or exotic climate in summer or later?
Both a holiday treat and staple Christmas decoration, the candy cane is synonymous with falling snow, colorful lights, beaming kids and good, ol’ fashioned yuletide cheer. The candy cane is the No. 1 selling non-chocolate candy during the month of the December (and has been since it began being mass produced in the 1950s) with 90 percent of annual sales made between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The Mott Community College Campus has a guardian. Standing in front of Mott’s Ballenger Fieldhouse, a 600-pound, six-foot tall bronze bear statue keeps constant vigil over the campus and its students.
This year, it’s been just one thing after another. It feels as if we’ve been relentlessly bombarded with tragedy, challenges, negativity and fear. Every exhalation is a sigh and every new headline a headache. Feeling overwhelmed? It’s okay to take a break from time to time. If you need to relax and unwind, then Saturday, August 15 is your day – because nothing comes before your inner peace on National Relaxation Day.
In 1852, in the northwestern region of the Mitten, a Presbyterian missionary named Peter Dougherty went against the advice of the local inhabitants and planted the first cherry orchard on the Old Mission Peninsula in Grand Traverse Bay. To everyone’s surprise, his stone fruit crop flourished and soon thereafter, cherry trees dotted the land. The first commercial orchard was Ridgewood Farm near the Dougherty property and the first processing facility was built by the Traverse City Canning Company.
