h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I Just came back from a two hour parade for the sesquicentennial of the city's incorporation. I had expected floats representing the decades as they entitled the Parade 'parade of the decades' however there were the usual elements to a parade interspersed with restored automobiles.
the announcer would say something like ' that was the Davenport University Marching band anjd here we have a 1932 Cadillac built right here in Lansing followed by a 1945 Oldsmobile '98 and then here is the City Parks Department float and that is followed by Shoyer towing. You've used their service but have you ever seen a tow truck that big. It is designed to to sixty tons'
We also had three ex-mayors walking side by side down the avenue.
Also clowns, horses, and ethnic groups.
One that was rather unusual was the Vietnamese American float thanking America for their service during the Vietnamese War.
there was also an Irish American club in the parade and a contingent from the Lesbian-Gay community f0ollowed by politicians in more classic cars.
The headline on the newspaper was that General Motors (nationwide) would be cutting their ties to over a thousand local dealership.
The city is also full of retired auto workers who are worried about how a pending bankrupcy for GM will affect them. this however was a day to reflect on the past they even gave out bookmarks from a city Archive bearing the URL http://www.lansinghistory.org.

From a link there:
"Dispite a drizzly and windy early morning, and a delay in the start time due to a train, the PARADE OF THE DECADES exceeded expectations. The combination of bands, clowns, classic cars, floats and others entries made for a fun day for spectators and participants alike. Thank you to Parade sponsor Demmer Corporation."

That's a bit more enthusiastic than your review.
But I appreciate yours as being somewhat more sincere.


~jwf~

The local Sunday Paper (http://www.lsj.com) will have a larger article on it. They put in a teaser after the parade
“The parade featured marching bands from high schools, alumni organizations and city clubs as well as cars from every decade, starting with Model T’s all the way up to brand new Pontiac roadsters. Military battalions, American Legion members and cheerleaders danced, cheered and saluted their way past excited kids eagerly awaiting the handfuls of candy being tossed from parade entries.”-Lansing state Journal
The Journal also has an online comments section for readers to respond. Here are a couple typical comments:
1.'but the parade was really anemic and ended unceremoniously. You know it's bad when folks don't even realize that the parade ended until a few minutes after the fact. It was almost kind of sad and pitiful to watch everyone just kind of mope away wondering what exactly happened, and not in a good way. Too bad that this is supposed to be the pinnacle of the 150 years celebration.'
2.'Looked lame-o to me when it was being shown on TV. Ohhhh..yeah...I just will line right up to see Shroyer's towing drive down the street along with the Red Cross. Oh BOY! Where were the fancy floats and all of that?'
As to 'excited kids eagerly awaiting...'
I had an eight year old next to me and after the first hour he was eagerly awaiting doing something else and trying to talk his parents into leaving early. they did stay for the whole race but the few meager items being handed out didn't realloy hold anybody's atention.

It really wasn't as bad as some of the grouches would make you think but it wasn't as good as the Journal portrayed it.
I notice the online account by the Lansing State Journal had a video with a commercial by a local restaurant.
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20090517/NEWS01/905170648/1221/LANSING

I suspect that video was for a limited time only and now if you wanted to see it you would probably have to buy a copy from the newspaper, (or the author).

Of course now that I said that the video is working again.
(Yesterday it wouldn't for some obscure reason)

>> .. it wouldn't...<<

Glad you came back to notify us.
It wasn't working for me the other day.

I love American marching bands!
Nice trumpet too!

BTW I didn't see if they had named the decades.
Did they come up with a name for the 2000s?


~jwf~

Never named a single decade. Probably by 2020 when we can see straight we will have forgotten all about it and just say 'back at the turn of the century'