community


By Debra Walker My oldest grandson, Gabri-


el, loves questioning people about their likes and dislikes, and the things they excel in. He looks at most things in life as competitions — the lon- gest, the fastest, the farthest, the biggest, the oldest, the youngest, the best, the worst. He creates his own Book of World Records.


He recently asked me about


my best childhood memory. I had to really think about that. As the youngest of five girls, I was sheltered, spoiled and in- credibly shy. My sisters and mom were all outgoing. I was more like my dad, quiet and reserved. I do remember sweet Christmases and playing out- side all year long. I rarely got into any trouble. My sisters saw to that, even though they had more than their share of messes. I do remember feel- ing so special when Easter was on my birthday, and I was young enough to think all of the excitement, food, fanfare and fancy clothes were just for me.


In thinking about my grand-


son’s question, I remembered the time when I was on my way home from school run- ning with my friends, and I fell flat on my face. I was wear- ing glasses like I had every day since I was 3. My glasses broke against my head as I heard this mean voice yell, “I told you to stop running!” I later found out it was one of my teachers who was also on her way home. The next thing I remembered was the throb- bing pain as the doctor pulled out glass from my forehead. There were stitches.


I don’t


recall how many. The scar re- mains.


But as I recall this incident,


I realize that this is not at all the memory I told my grand-


Gabriel


That’s What She Said


Debra Walker


son was my favorite. But it was definitely an interesting moment.


Gabriel and I have since had


several great conversations, or question and answer sessions as is generally the format. He was curious about the longest home run, and the distance of the longest successful shot in basketball. I couldn’t answer either. He later asked about the hottest day ever on Earth, when, where and if I thought I could survive that tempera- ture, whatever it was. His questions are like a rapid fire inquisition. And if I happen to know an answer, he is always ready with a follow-up, “Who was the second smartest, or where is the second tallest building or country with the second fewest people?”


These talks always put


a smile on my face. I am in- trigued with the expanse of his questions and his ability


THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE


A grandson, competitions and memories


to put himself into the situa- tions. His confidence gener- ally has him surpassing the home run or basketball shot distance, and he acknowledg- es his ability to tolerate that extreme heat.


I did respond to my grand-


son’s interest in my favorite memory with the story of one of the many summers I spent with my mother’s family in Simpsonville, South Carolina. Spending time with cousins and experiencing the freedom of long country walks, wading in the nearby creek, late nights with fireflies, and silly conver- sations always made the days seem endless. Sometimes we slept outside and enjoyed the heat of the fresh air. My cousin, Bonnie, was the first person I ever saw sleep with their eyes open. I remember being confused and a little scared by that. The moments just seemed to happen. The summer was easy and special. I am sure I didn’t realize at the time just how special.


This isn’t a particularly dra-


matic or over the top story, but it’s clear. It’s vivid. And it’s a memory before I developed my fear of stars — a story for an- other time.


My greatest memories


are happening now, with my grandsons. One of my rea- sons for retiring early was to have the opportunity to spend more time with Gabriel. I love that he lets me be a part of creating his memories, while his inquisitiveness keeps me in touch with my past. It is a marathon, and not a sprint, to see who has the most, the best, the longest, the funni- est, the scariest, and even the most outrageous memories. I hope he wins.


Debra Walker a grand-


mother of two and a regular contributor to the Michigan Chronicle.


Poetic Reflections ‘Ready’


Ready to go to war, not with guns and body armor but knowledge and a mouthpiece, guns ablaze ready to poison these m--- with aids like they did our community to keep us enslaved time travels forward never backwards the nectar of our growth has been covered with a non-stop fungus growth we are sluggish at a pause That’s why I use my jaws to barrel through the b--- they keep at bae. We must fight the powers that be


And if you think im talking about a man with white skin please take your head out of the bin it has been in. because you are trapped in one of their fake ideals


they keep us all as stupid as the mouse that spins its wheels You, me and them must come together as one before our time is done


We are in the depths of a flame powered whirl wind that has brought us to our end


I am your reaper The mirror to your soul’s keeper I am here to collect what you have sowed And let you know what is further down the road If what you have sowed is on the dark side You have satanic demons to be your guide Your negative actions are birthed from negative thoughts And a sinner as yourself will reap of all your faults


If we dont show remorse for our own sin


How can we expect a man to be at a splintery cross again?


We are lost in the pits of our souls, tell me do you feel it? Do you feel the warmth of your soul


Joshua Wallace cause I don’t.


ready to take off as beautiful as gold? be-


I feel such a hate building up inside me ready to explode you must listen to this story It has already been for told I am young but old Because my eyes are open


and my mouth is the vessel that can teach your soul we are all born for a reason I’m an intelligent soldier strapped to the T. ready for the day they come to see me So please be ready for the powers that be. © 2010 Joshua Wallace


‘The Reaper’


So see it like it is as you watch your life unfold And know it is too late for your sinful *** to unload You weaved your life into a detrimental state And now your lousy soul is consumed with hate But don’t give up! Life is not yet lost Pray for forgiveness and the strength to pay the cost.


© 2010 Floria Willis


Myths and realities about temporary Following are five miscon-


ceptions about temporary


work and the realities behind them:


Myth #1: Temporary assign-


ments are mainly clerical or lower skilled.


Reality: The fastest growth


in the temporary industry is in professional and technical occupations, as both busi- nesses and professionals have realized the benefits of greater flexibility. Companies now hire interim professionals for positions ranging from entry- level accounting clerk to chief financial officer.


Myth #2: Temporary


work can’t be included on a resume.


Reality: Temporary assign- ments can— and should— be


included on a resume. List the staffing firm as your employ- er and then describe the job duties you have performed for various companies.


Myth #3: Temporary work


will interfere with my search for a permanent position.


Reality: It could actually


enhance it. Many businesses view interim engagements as a way to evaluate people for full- time roles and often hire tem- porary workers they’ve had an opportunity to observe first- hand. Project work also allows professionals to enhance their skill set and earn an income while continuing their search for a full-time job.


Myth #4: Temporary work


doesn’t pay well. Reality: Temporary and


By Patrick Keating CHRONICLE STAFF WRITER


In the 12-issue “Grounded”


storyline the Man of Steel opts to walk through various Amer- ican cities. His second stop in issue 702, released Aug. 11 is Detroit.


DC Comics co-publisher


Dan DiDio said that as far as he knows from his conversations with writer J. Michael Strac- zynski, Detroit was always intended to be the second city Superman would visit.


He said DC chose the first


city — Philadelphia — for pro- duction reasons, then started a write-in campaign from fans as to where else besides Phila- delphia and Detroit Superman should visit and why.


Superman will visit a dif-


ferent city each issue of the “Grounded” storyline.


As for Superman’s visit


to Detroit, DiDio said there won’t be any recognizable landmarks. Superman won’t be stopping in for lunch at either Lafayette Coney Island or American Coney Island. In- stead, the idea is to catch the


August 25-31, 2010


Page C-2 ‘Man of Steel’ comes to Mo-


THE MAN OF STEELwalks the streets of Detroit in this month’s issue of “Superman.”


Midnight Nation, the last two created by Straczynski him- self. Straczynski was also the creator and primary writer of the science fiction TV series “Babylon 5.”


“I know that there’s been a


couple of people that are happy that Detroit is mentioned, be- cause in “Green Lantern,” I think last week, Livonia was mentioned as well. But it doesn’t seem like it’s moving that many more books.”


As to the in-story impetus


tone of the city. He said the key aspect of


the Detroit story concerns Superman coming across an abandoned auto factory and learning how it affects the people who live around it.


Brian Kelly, owner of De-


troit Comics in Ferndale, said he’s sold out of the issue, but he didn’t anticipate it to be too groundbreaking.


“It’s a Superman story, and


it’s okay,” he said. “I’ve gotten a little bit of a bump in sales, but I didn’t anticipate it selling out.”


Mike Mullin, an employee


at Back to the Past Comics and Pop Culture Warehouse in Redford, said he doesn’t know how many people are reading “Grounded” because of the Detroit connection, but that a lot of people have picked it up because of Straczynski. Strac- zynski’s other comics work has included Amazing Spider- Man, Thor, Rising Stars and


for Superman to begin walking across the country, DiDio said that for the last year or so Su- perman had been involved in large scale, cosmic adventures off planet. He said that upon his return to Earth, Superman was confronted by a woman who told him he’s become separated from mankind, and isn’t connecting with people because he’s flying above them.


DiDio acknowledged the


similarities to a scene in “Green Lantern” #76 (April 1970) in which an old Black man confronts Green Lantern about how he’s off helping people on other planets, but not doing all that much for people like himself back on Earth.


He also said the woman


confronting Superman re- minds him of the scene in “Jaws” where Chief Brody (Roy Scheider) is slapped by Mrs. Kintner.


No worries about Clark


Kent losing his job because he’s not showing up at the office. DiDio said the Daily Planet is aware that Superman is walking across the country


and that Clark might be cover- ing the story.


He also said Superman’s in


regular contact with his wife, Lois Lane.


Superman won’t simply be


walking across the country in the “Grounded” storyline, however. DiDio said super vil- lains and other such elements will appear, so there will be challenges the Man of Steel must face.


And, given his confronta-


tion with the woman DiDio mentioned, one might surmise he’ll be confronted by other or- dinary people demanding why he didn’t do something about a matter that affected them on a personal level.


DiDio also emphasized that


Superman hasn’t lost the abil- ity to fly. He just chooses to walk through certain parts of the country.


As to DC Comics’ real world


impetus to have this storyline, DiDio said it made for a nice counterpoint to the cosmic “New Krypton” adventure that had just finished. He also said DC and Straczynski want to show how real people have been inspired by Superman over the years.


Asked why Superman,


who was created by teenagers Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster and first appeared in Action Comics #1 (June 1938), re- mains relevant, DiDio said, for him, it’s because Superman doesn’t judge, he helps.


“He doesn’t try to affect


change,” DiDio said. “He helps people through particular problems and crises.”


Ted Raimi’s ‘Playing Dead’ screening to benefit Mosaic Youth Theatre


Actor and Director Ted


Raimi is coming home to De- troit Aug. 28 to screen all eight episodes of the web series “Playing Dead” at the Detroit Institute of Arts’ Detroit Film Theatre. The 8 p.m. event will benefit the Mosaic Youth The- atre.


“Playing Dead” concerns


a down-on-her-luck actress named Grace, (Suzanne Keilly, who also wrote the series) who, to make ends meet, takes a part time job as Death. As described on the website, www.watchplayingdead.com, “Wanted: One actor to per- form as death. Non-squeamish types need only apply. Must be okay with long hours, blood, disease, murder and apple sauce. Contact: Death.”


Raimi, who produced and


contract positions typically pay on par with salaried ones, and individuals with the most sought-after skills can often command a premium.


Myth #5: Job seekers will


have to pay to work with a staffing firm.


Reality: Respectable staff-


ing firms never charge can- didates for their services. All fees are covered by the client companies.


Accountemps is the world’s


first and largest specialized staffing service for tempo- rary accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals. The company has 360 offices worldwide and offers online job search services at www. accountemps.com.


directed the web series, said this is the first time he’s been involved with the Mosaic Youth Theatre. He said he knows Annette Madias, asso- ciate director of development at Mosaic, who contacted him after seeing an article about him in the Detroit Free Press. She’d asked if he would screen the web series— which he said is actually a TV pilot in several parts— at the youth theatre.


“I thought that was a great


idea,” he said, adding that not only is he from Detroit, but the bands involved in the project are local bands. Also, being an actor for 20 years, I’m very interested in seeing kids get involved in the arts, and being successful in them. It’s a com- pletely viable career choice.”


Raimi said that the end of


each episode features a dif- ferent Detroit band, and that they range from signed and unsigned, big and small.


“They were all selected by


myself and their manager, who’s also a music super- visor, Kim Paris,” he said. “Paris owns Sinister Foxy Pro- ductions. Raimi said she was very helpful in putting those


together. I was always very in- spired by Detroit music and I wanted it in my series, so I put it in there.”


Raimi has edited the eight


episodes so they’ll run as one continuous piece at the Aug. 28 screening.


“I think it’ll be really en-


tertaining, but mostly I’m just glad I can help out these kids,” he said, adding that he hadn’t even been aware of the Mosaic Youth Theatre, which was es- tablished after Raimi had left Detroit for Los Angeles.


“I just think it’s a great


idea,” he said. “It’s fantastic that these gifted kids have an outlet where normally they couldn’t. The arts — naturally — are the first thing that gets cut in every budget.”


Raimi emphasized that the


arts are important and said he’s glad that there’s a compa- ny like Mosaic Youth Theatre.


After the screening, some of


the musicians and bands that played on the series will per- form, including Troy Gregory, and Lightening Love. Raimi will then do a Q & A.


“The day before that I will


be teaching kids from Mosaic at their facility,” he said. “I’ll be doing an on camera work- shop for them and an improv workshop for them.”


Raimi’s currently at work


on a new horror anthology web series. He added that it offers more suspense than gore. He’s hoping to shoot that entirely in Detroit, using all Detroit crews and mostly Detroit actors.


He said he’s looking for-


ward to that project, and ex- pects to start production in two to three months.


“I’m really looking forward


to coming back home and shooting that thing there,” he said. “It’s a great place to shoot.”


As for “Playing Dead,”


Raimi believes it lends itself very well to television, which is why he’s treating the web series as a potential TV pilot.


“We’ll see what happens


with that, but in the meantime, I’m on to the next project,” he said. “You keep throwing darts at the board until you hit one, and eventually you always do.”


According to Raimi, the


1960 Hitchcock film “Psycho” in which there’s actually less blood as the movie goes on — but more suspense — is an excellent example of what he’s trying to achieve.


Raimi reiterated that he’s


“super excited” to take part in the benefit for Mosaic.


He also said that if Michi-


gan can keep the tax breaks for filmmakers there will be less reason for actors to leave Detroit and come to Los Ange- les.


“Which is a very good thing,”


he said. “And Mosaic Youth Theatre is probably central toward the future of keeping actors there and keeping the artistic part of the filmmaking process there in Detroit.”


He said that’s very impor-


tant because if filmmakers who are coming in with mil- lions of dollars know that they don’t also have to import all their actors from Chicago, New York or LA, but can cast medium to smaller parts lo- cally, they’ll do that.


“But there has to be that


base there that can do that,” he said. “But it’s important to start kids young. I’m glad I can do that. I feel like not only is it good for the kids, it’s really good for the whole state, in the long term.”


For more information, call


(313) 872-6910 or visit www. mosaicdetroit.org.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32