Playlist for 9/23/06
Howdy.
Archive is here.
They Might Be Giants - Letter (Not A Letter) (Here Come the ABCs)
Elizabeth Mitchell - Alphabet Dub (You Are My Sunshine)
Asheba - Sapodilla (Children are the Sunshine)
Grown-Ups - Cantina Ska (I'm A Grownup EP)
The Real Tuesday Weld - I Love the Rain (Where Psyche Meets Cupid)
Milkshake - Rainy Day
Laurie Berkner - What Falls in the Fall? (Whaddya Think of That?)
Justin Roberts - Yellow Bus (Yellow Bus)
--song ID
--Kevin K & ScribbleJim
Paul Westerberg - Love You In The Fall (Open Season soundtrack)
Roger Day - Greatest Day On Earth (exclusive) (for Alice)
Teacher & the Rockbots - Water Cycle (Science)
REM - Stand (Green)
Uncle Rock - Rock 'n' Roll Babysitter (Plays Well With Others)
John Linnell - South Carolina (State Songs)
--song ID
--Yosi guest DJ set
They Might Be Giants - Dinner Bell
Yosi - Let's Get Cookin'
Presidents of the USA - Peaches
Ralph's World - Happy Lemons
Kevin Kammeraad - 29 Cookies
Ernie & Nealo - Pink Piggie Polka Pancake Picnic
Louis Prima - Banana Split for My Baby
Brady Rymer - Look At My Belly
--song ID
Yosi - Chicken Noodle Soup
Justin Roberts - Airplane of Food
Barry Louis Poliszar - The "I Eat Kids" Klezmer Polka
Vibrations - Ain't No Greens in Harlem
Daddy-A-Go-Go - Eat Every Bean and Pea on Your Plate
Golden Smog - Pecan Pie
Mel Blanc - I'm Just Wild About Animal Crackers
Flaming Lips - She Don't Use Jelly
Hipwaders - Jelly Beans
Yosi - Pass the Purple Pesto Pasta Please
--song ID
They Might Be Giants - Clap Your Hands (No!)
Permanent link • Posted at 7:52 AM
4 comment(s)
4 Comment(s):
Great show, Ella and Bill and Yosi!
I again enjoyed the converstaions with ScribbleJim and Kevin K. I did a quick search and couldn't find more about the change of the state fish. Bill, you must have the resources to be able to research that.... Michigan Public Act 5 in 1988.
Yosi -- great set! Anyone who plays Ralph and also The Hipwaders gets our vote!
Happy Birthday Alice. Great week for a birthday (Camille turns eight on Tuesday).
Happy to hear Uncle Rock too; he's becaome a real favorite around here.
Looking forward to next week's show.
On a quick romp through Michigan legislative history, I can't find anything reflecting the reason for the amendment; merely the fact of the amendment. Interesting note, though, is that a 1997 document refers to the "brook trout" as the state fish, so perhaps everyone thought it was already the state fish, and the amendment was to clarify.
I also came across this analysis of the proposal to make the mastodon the state fossil. The idea was pitched by a geology professor who got tons of school kids involved. I just found it entertaining. I especially like "Now the Mastodon, hairy and colossal, should become our state fossil." Sounds like something that Jim and Kevin would come up with.
Anyway, here's the for and against analysis some poor legislative aide had to do for the state fossil:
For:
Over 30 states currently have state fossils, and although Michigan's official state stone-the Petoskey stone-is technically fossilized colonial coral, Michigan does not have an official state fossil. The mastodon would make a truly awe-inspiring state symbol. Mastodons, now extinct, were large mammals, similar in appearance and size to related species such as woolly mammoths (also extinct) and modern elephants. Scientists believe that mastodons roamed Michigan as recently as 10,000 years ago, when the state's other non-human residents included mammoths, woodland musk oxen, Scott's moose, and black bear-sized beavers. Though the state may not be able to boast the large quantities of mastodon "digesta" that have been found in Florida, bones, teeth, and other remains from over 250 mastodons have been found in Michigan. Moreover, the world's only (known) mastodon footprints-those of a large male, a female, and a calf-were excavated in Michigan's own Saline Township.
Designating the mastodon as the official state fossil would have a profound educational impact on the state's residents by bringing attention to an aspect of Michigan's history that schoolchildren and adults currently know very little about. Since mastodons lived alongside modern human beings, official recognition of their role in human history would encourage schools and museums to educate the public about relations between modern humans and mastodons. Though people often associate anthropology and prehistory with excavations performed in remote and exotic corners of the world that they may never have a chance to visit, focusing attention on the mastodon's interaction with earlier generations of Michiganians would serve as a useful reminder that people can learn about their distant ancestors on a very local level. Although many other creatures inhabited the state and interacted with previous residents, the mastadon's large size and extinct status make the animal an especially exciting topic of inquiry and investigation. This is particularly true of children who seem to have an instinctive curiosity about dinosaurs and other large, prehistoric beasts; however, a child who expresses intellectual interest often stimulates parents, teachers, and other adults to take an active interest in the subject as well. Though size and extinct status could be used to support designating the mammoth, which also roamed Michigan, the state fossil, the number of mastodon bones and teeth found throughout the state far outweighs the number of mammoth remains.
Designating the mastodon as the state fossil would also have other educational benefits for children. In their study of the mastodon, Slauson Middle School students honed their mathematical skills, learned about geology, created artwork, wrote songs, and even issued press releases and conducted media interviews. Moreover, many of the Slauson students have devoted their time and energy to the state fossil project beyond required class time-something that is just a distant dream for many parents and teachers. Although some of these activities were directly related to the students' lobbying efforts, the mastodon clearly provides a distinct focal point around which educators will easily motivate student interest. In conclusion, to quote the Slauson students' mantra, "Now the Mastodon, hairy and colossal, should become our state fossil."
Against:
While it is a worthwhile civics exercise for students to promote and testify on behalf of legislation, many people believe that there are already more than enough-if not too many-state symbols. If there is to be a state fossil, then the mastodon is as good a candidate as any and perhaps it is even better than the others; however, it is not clear that the state needs an official fossil. Although supporters have made a good case supporting the importance of mastodon to understanding Michigan and its history, the state could promote awareness of the mastodon without designating a state fossil.
The argument against begs the question, "How many state symbols are enough?" I also enjoy that the state could promote awareness of the mastodon without designating it a state symbol. I wonder, what specifically would they have done? The possibilities amuse me.
what a mantra! i am just in awe of the whole project from that particular middle school: also in awe of such comments as "...a quick romp through Michigan legislative history"! Jim, i also liked your comments about how to present information to kids who identify so much with the TV 'jingle' format. the show continues to inspire us!
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