Posts tagged with Lawrence
St. Stupid’s Day and the Big Wheel are two events that Lawrence needs to participate in next year
SFAppeal photograph by Lawrence Morgan
These are two events that Lawrence can't miss next year
St. Stupid's Day Parade
St. Stupid's Day took place in San Francisco on April 1, 2013. I remember the first year I was in San Francisco. I was very poor, and I was sitting in a coffeehouse downtown, and all of a sudden St. Stupid's Parade passed the window. I couldn't believe what was passing by outside. I left my chair and went outside, and the parade was tremendous.
But when I got back inside to my chair, I found that my coat had gone, which I had just purchased the previous week - an unfortunate negative side to living in a large city.
But I've enjoyed the parade each year very much.
Can't you imagine what Lawrence could do with this parade, on April 1st of each year?
Take a look at the following pictures:
http://www.sfgate.com/local/slideshow/April-Fools-parade-59534/photo-2766394.php
On Easter Sunday, there's also the Bring your Own Big Wheel race/demolition derby
There are more than 1500 contestants, dressed in everything from the Easter Bunny to astronauts. They all sit on plastic tricycles, or some version thereof, and head down the street past thousands of spectators. In San Francisco, Vermont Street on Potrero Hill is very steep. But the event would be just as much fun without the steep street.
http://blog.sfgate.com/cwnevius/2013/04/02/big-wheel-a-perfect-snapshot-of-quirky-san-francisco/
These are two events that Lawrence absolutely needs to take part in!
sfgate photograph by Lawrence Morgan
Why doesn’t Lawrence have a magical display?
fubiz photograph by Lawrence Morgan
Bay bridge has LED lights - why not Lawrence?
If there is one thing that would bring visitors to Lawrence, it would be a magical display of lights on the Lawrence bridge. It is not the Bay Bridge in San Francisco, but the right person and software, with even a limited amount of money, could do a tremendous job with lighting this bridge for the spring, summer and fall months.
http://blogs.kqed.org/newsfix/2013/02/26/watch-video-light-sculpture-to-brighten-the-bay-bridge/
People would come and they would greatly enjoy it.
This is one of a series of blogs I'm going to do about the possibilities for innovation and change in Lawrence. Other blogs include:
People need to enjoy themselves in downtown Lawrence, and it isn't just about buying things. It's also about magic.
The environment makes a tremendous difference!
The Queen’s 60th Jubilee - Part 2 - expanded to include Tuesday’s events
The Queen's Jubilee Pageant - Part 2
Day 4 - Tuesday
Tuesday is the final day of the Queen's Jubilee concert. The Queen attends services at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. All the choir kids are getting ready:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-18323557
Following that, she appears on the balcony and enjoys a flypast.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18333746
What do the French think of all this?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18329050
Finally, she gives her farewell address to the nation, and the four days of the Diamond Jubilee are over!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18333998
Last of all, you have to see this high-definition picture of London which the BBC just put up this afternoon:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18295433
Day 3 - Monday
This special concert took place today at 1:30 our time. Shirley Bassey, Alfie Boe, Jools Holland, Jessie J., JLS, Elton John, Tom Jones, Lang Lang, Annie Lennox, Madness, Paul McCartney, Cliff Richard and Ed Sheeran, were all in this concert. And the Queen was there!
Here are some of the performers being interviewed before the concert today:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18324078
And Sir Cliff Richard who was there for all sixty years:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18320722
They've done an incredible job with the stage. Here's an interview with Keith Lockhart, who will be conducting, as well as a photograph of the stage.
And here are pictures of the concert:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-18324096:
After the concert, beacons were lit around the world. These beacons were lit In most of the Commonwealth countries, and in other countries too, like the United States. The Queen lit the National Beacon at 20:30 British Summer Time, directly following the concert.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18327402
The beacons come from British history: These beacons constitute 1900 years of history.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jun/04/jubilee-beacon-hadrian?intcmp=239
Look at the interactive map with beacons from throughout the world::
http://www.diamondjubileebeacons.co.uk/static_html/interactive_map_171898.html
Day 2 - Sunday
Here is a detailed background on Day 2 of the four day Jubilee pageant.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18313886
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18313883
The Queen's Barge makes its way along the River Thames:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-18313984
Whether or not you've been to London, England, you will enjoy these pictures.
Despite the weather, people thronged by the thousands to the River Thames to watch the pageant and flotilla.
The Thames River Barrier was lowered so that the river would flow slower.
The Thames River Barrier has been described as the eighth wonder of the world. It is one of the largest movable flood barriers in the world. It has ten steel gates that can be raised into position across the Thames River. When raised, the main gates stand as high as a five-story building and as wide as the opening of Tower Bridge. Each main gate weights 3,300 tons. You should see this if you are in London in the future.
To return to the events of Day 2, 20,000 people were expected to be on the floats of the flotilla, which travelled at 4 knots (4.6 miles) an hour. There were also lunches (such as the "Big Lunch" in London) and parties throughout Great Britain and the Commonwealth.
Of special interest is the Queen's barge, which was designed to show what the highly decorated royal barges were like in the 17th and 18th centuries.
The man-powered boats, led by the Queen's row barge "Gloriana," were the first to pass the finish line.
Pictures were pouring in from around the world, including Dubai, Canada, China, France, Australia, Germany, Tuvalu and New Zealand.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-18307845
and of course from the UK:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/18306929
with Jubilee related stories:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18313069
This is a very good essay with many sides of the British character:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18237280
By the way, I sent a picture into the BBC from the Journal-World's article on the Queen's Jubilee in Lawrence yesterday. If other people took pictures of the Lawrence event, or parties, they should also send them to the BBC at yourpics@bbc.co.uk
There are pictures from Craig Patterson and Staci Garman of the Jubilee Diamond event in Lawrence below.
To me, it's an incredible event when a town like Lawrence, Kansas, can have its own Jubilee celebration!
And here is an article, of which there are many, from Canada:
Here is another excellent article from Perth, Australia:
And here is the celebration in Grenada:
http://www.diamondjubileegrenada.com/Image-Gallery.html
This shows that the British Commonwealth still is liked tremendously in many parts of the world, including British-speaking Africa and the Caribbean..
The first part of my blog is at:
It is full of useful information and photographs! Share it with your kids!
Now, here is the Lawrence event!
Here are some great pictures of the Lawrence Diamond Jubilee event, taken by Craig Patterson and Staci Garman.
Here are Craig's pictures:
and here are Staci's pictures:
The Queen’s 60th Jubilee
The 60th Jubilee Concert - Around the World
Whether or not you are a fan of the royalty of Great Britain, this is a special weekend for both British and non-British fans from around the world. There is much to experience every day.
From street parties to horse racing (the English really love horse racing), today's Derby was the big event:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18298743
Here are pictures from Saturday, June 2, 2012, Day 1:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18308797
Two years of preparations took place for this year's Jubilee:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18302524
If you have or haven't been to London, this is a great chance just to enjoy the scenery. It is also an incredibly great pageant, which only the British can put on.
The music for the pageant has been put together by ten composers, all inspired by Handel's Water Music. By the way, according to the BBC, Tutankhamen's trumpet (from the time of the ancient Egyptians) is the oldest royal instrument.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9724000/9724619.stm
And here is a history of royal pageantry in London.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18107913
Some of the following footage is shown for the first time:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18305355
And here is the changing face of the Queen over the years:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18208434
I am very impressed that Lawrence has joined the 60th Jubilee with its own set of events. No matter what it is that you like that is British, whether it is the wonderful TV comedies (Faulty Towers, Dad's Army), the cars (there will be a display in Lawrence), Shakespeare, or the trails for hiking throughout Great Britain, this is your weekend.
Please share your pictures of Lawrence during today's festival, and also your thoughts and pictures if you have made trips to Great Britain, things that you are currently studying about Britain, or if you are British--let us know what you like best about your country.
I must admit that I like many things about Great Britain very much, especially the people.
For students and people who do not know the national anthem of Great Britain, please see the following:
This would be a great project for students to write about over the summer - some aspect of British history.
I will be updating this blog throughout the next four days of the Jubilee.
I would also like to hear from students and residents of other countries, as well. As time permits, in the future I will also do a blog on other cultures and countries.
Please write in your comments, pictures and good experiences.
Google Earth - A boy finds his mother after 25 years, and basketball from West Africa
A Journey to The Gambia, and then India and Tasmania
Like many people, I have been following and using Google Earth for several years with some amazing results.
For example, I have been able to pinpoint the spot in The Gambia, Africa, where the person I am working with on projects in West Africa lives (Ebrahima Mbowe). Several years ago, I would never have even thought of any way to do that.
It's been fun to follow the entire coast of the Gambian River as it goes inland.
Soccer is the big game in Africa, but there are basketball teams as well in various parts of the continent.
We will soon be doing our first post on African basketball teams of The Gambia, and some of the players. I can't think of a better source than to have it on the Lawrence-Journal World. Lawrence is a basketball town, one of the finest in the country. It will be fun to have some of the good African players of basketball on this blog, hopefully with pictures and the events of their lives, which are quite different from the lives of American players.
And Google Earth will make it possible to see where they live and have grown up in Africa.
And a journey to India and Tasmania
But there is another fascinating article which came out this morning;
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17693816
Google Earth has helped a boy find his mother from his new home in Tasmania after 25 years.
One you read this article I think you will be astonished. Just as I've been able to use Google Earth for The Gambia--getting to the intersection of the road from Serrekunda to Banjul--this young person made great use of Google Earth to find his home town Khandwa, close to Calcutta. It is a heartbreaking story but it has a very good ending.
From the Sydney, Australia, Morning Herald:
http://www.smh.com.au/world/little-boy-lost-a-25year-odyssey-20120323-1vp65.html
I wonder if other readers have made similar journeys on Google Earth, and what they have experienced. Please include your comments.
A New Vision for Lawrence - Scooters, Pedestrians, Bikes, Cars - and Short-Term Insurance
Why Scoot?
Cities have been undergoing new developments in the past several years. In particular, there are now car companies which allow for a person to rent cars for only an hour or two. The same thing is true with bicycles.
in Paris. for example, bicycles can be picked up or driven to more than 1,200 bicycle stations throughout the city at very low cost. London also has a bicycle system, with drop off or pick up at 400 "docked stations" spread over the city, as does Montreal.
The newest thing is scooters. If San Francisco has it way, Scooters will also be available for short periods of time.
All this, if the DMV and Insurance Companies go along with it, is a very good thing.
Insurance companies must be making changes, because there are lots of cars available for 1 hour or 6 hours, at not a large cost.
http://sfappeal.com/news/2012/03/sfs-new-scooter-sharing-service-might-run-into-wall-at-dmv.php
The possibilities for a city like Lawrence to have scooters, bicycles and cars available only as needed will make the city much more liveable than ever before. For at least half of the year, many students and residents could forgo cars altogether, and use the scooters and bicycles instead. It's a liberation which, at first thought, is hard to believe.
A wonderful Kansas video has been made about riding a bicycle. It's in another post on Well Commons:
And may I suggest another post, from a larger city, which also has an extremely active bicycle program:
http://sf.streetsblog.org/2012/03/19/how-bikes-make-portland-cool/
And here's the new yike bike:
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/drive_to_discover&id=8595116
But drivers have to be constantly alert for scooters, bikes and pedestrians
Drivers, however, have to be much more careful to watch out for bicycles and especially for scooters and pedestrians. There need to be changes made in the roadways themselves, as well as driving habits, if these possibilities - and a better Lawrence as a result - are to be successful.
Pathways have to be created for bicyclists on major streets, or the next street over to a major street, so that bicyclists feel safe.
Major signs should be put up for bicycle and scooter routes:
and:
There are also problems which need to be solved, including theft of bicycles. Many cities are working on this.
And - all motorists, bicyclsts and scooters need to know the rules of the road, quite possibly in more detail than before:
http://sameroadssamerules.org/myths-vs-reality/motorist-myths/
Pedestrians (and bicyclists) need more paths to walk and ride on
There needs to be more pedestrian walkways, especially along the river and between towns - Baldwin City, Lawrence and Ottawa being a good example. The result would be an influx of tourists from out of town - making northeast Kansas a place to come for bicycling, scooters, and walking.
A Different Approach to Car Insurance
At the same time, there needs also to be a different approach to car insurance. Car insurance companies won't like this, but it's happening in other cities, and sooner - not later - it needs to happen in Kansas, too, especially for cars and scooters. This may require legislation to enact.
Maybe the worst problem is road rage
I drive a car myself, as well as walking and riding bicycles. So there is a tremendous problem of road rage. Many of the streets in older cities, especially, just aren't wide enough. Motorists - and officials - need to work on making road rage accessible and to be talked about, especially when scooters and bicyclists become even more popular.
Everyone has to give some things, including time. Bosses can't always be sure their employees will arrive right on time. In general, motorists have to much more careful and attentive, at all times. Opening the car door once at the wrong time could cause a terrible bike crash.
This could be a different town to live in
But - if we put these new rules into effect, this could be an entirely different city to live in, in the future. The climate is perfect for long distance riding and scootering - eventually going clear across the state. People will have much more to do on weekends. Many new businesses eventually be created. People won't have to have cars for at least one half the year - they can rent scooters or cars, or take bicycles to work. There are also fold-up bicycles which can be put in cars and used for shorter distances to and from the car.
This will also help innovation, and bring new firms to the city. Much high tech work is careful attention to detail. When people are off work, people need to ride their scooters or bicycles to relieve tension and enjoy themselves, to achieve balance in their lives.
Lawrence has a good start in this area. We have some great parks and the downtown is first rate, especially when there are more places for bicycles and scooters.
All of Kansas - not just Lawrence - has possibilities, once you have a different mindset about things. But Lawrence would be a good place to start things on a serious note, to make streets and the whole town liveable for all kinds of people
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- Blog: Kansas science and math teachers easily recruited away May 20, 2013 · 35 comments
- Planning Commission recommends approval of Menards store for south Lawrence May 20, 2013 · 40 comments
- Blog: FreedomWorks urges Legislature to reject Common Core reading and math standards May 21, 2013 · 16 comments
- Opinion: Amid crisis, Europe resists extremism May 21, 2013 · 19 comments
- Letter: Serious issue May 21, 2013 · 24 comments
- Will of the people May 21, 2013 · 1 comment
- Crews race to find survivors of Oklahoma twister May 20, 2013 · 34 comments
- Two men arrested in connection with Sunday morning shooting May 20, 2013 · 51 comments
- Opinion: Benghazi triggers a major credibility crisis May 18, 2013 · 78 comments
- Legislature makes no progress; Brownback leaves state to tout tax cuts May 20, 2013 · 17 comments
- Memphis forward Tarik Black transfers to KU May 20, 2013
- Planning Commission recommends approval of Menards store for south Lawrence May 20, 2013
- 40 years ago: Outgoing KU chancellor receives tributes from alumni May 21, 2013
- Midwifery 101: Options for pregnant women May 21, 2013
- Free State softball draws Derby first May 20, 2013
- They said it ... about Tarik Black May 20, 2013
- Two men arrested in connection with Sunday morning shooting May 20, 2013
- When furniture turned into art: Wendell Castle's KU connection May 19, 2013
- KU makes sudden change in Statehouse presence May 20, 2013
- Legislature makes no progress; Brownback leaves state to tout tax cuts May 20, 2013
