In my head, I was movin’ and groovin’ to the sounds of the seventies, but the reality was much different. They didn’t play Disco Duck or Sometimes When We Touch, and I found my body was unable move the way it used to. Sure, my center of gravity has shifted slightly; roller skating never provided a workout sweat before either.

Apparently, my body did not receive the lesson on the power of positive thinking.

With each lap, skating memories returned…

• My first rink in Toronto and the reason I began to ride the city bus alone in 5th grade.
• Buying my own pair of roller skates.
• Every weekend of my early teenage years, and several “all nighters”, dancing and skating until sunrise.
• The happiness of having a hand to hold during the couple’s skate.
• The two occasions I’ve hitchhiked.

Towards the end of today’s event, I was beginning to get a little doo-wop back in my stride and I even participated in the backwards skate. If there was a local roller rink, I’d be planning a weekly visit and be dancing on 8 wheels again in no time.

Instead, I’ll look forward to the next P.O.W.E.R Organization’s skating fundraiser!

We started off with a walk along the Riverfront and a quick walking tour of the Renaissance Center. The Detroit waterfront is beautiful and it was fun to watch the kids play in the water fountain to beat the 100+ temperature that day. We worked our way back to the Wheelhouse to rent bikes. Considering we had to wait for them to be returned, we nearly had the Dequindre Cut to ourselves as we stopped to look at the graffiti under the bridges. I made a mental note to take my sons back, because they’d enjoy seeing the art too. I expected more graffiti and less green space but the beauty of this tour remains uniquely Detroit.

We biked up to the Eastern Market – it was my first visit there as well. So many plants, vegetables and items to choose from. Shoppers were everywhere and across the street Bert’s Marketplace was selling barbecue on the street while diners melted in the heat and listened to live entertainment. The whole area vibrated with it’s aliveness.

We traversed the cut back to the waterfront and checked out the William G. Milliken State Park where we discovered a lighthouse, harbor and more active riverfront views.

We followed our tour day with a little more Detroit culture and ate a filling meal at Slows BAR-B-Q.

See my Detroit images here:

Link to Detroit Flickr Set

Here is a summary of their list: (Visit here to see the images and the reasons for their selections.)

1. The Heidelberg Project
2. The Cass Corridor
3. The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit
4. Mexicantown’s Restaurants and Supermercados
5. The Eastern Market
6. Detroit on Wheels (or Feet)
7. Artists’ Studios
8. Motown (and Other Musical Attractions)
9. The Quest for the Perfect Coney

Of course, those that live in and around this city understand there are more than 9 reasons why Detroit Rocks! For more cool things to see and do in Detroit, check out Becks Davis’ blog at DetroitMoxie.com

Thanks to @bchesnutt for bringing this list to my attention via twitter.

I had the opportunity to see the Metropolitan Youth Symphony perform recently. I was surprised at the level of music these young people were playing!

• Junior Strings Orchestra – grades 1 to 5
• String Orchestra – grades 5 to 9
• Concert Orchestra – grades 9 to 12
• Symphony Orchestra – grades 10 to 12

Their next concert is February 6th at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center

If your child is serious about his or her instrument, you may want to consider learning more about this non-profit organization: Metropolitan Youth Symphony. Membership is by audition, which are held towards the end of summer for the following season.

Below is a video my son took while we were at the concert, I’m sure you can determine which side of the stage his friend was performing on. This is the Symphony Orchestra:

Video shot at Clarkston High School during the Fall Concert on November 14, 2010.

I moved to Columbus, Ohio in 1999 and turned on the news to become familiarized with the area. I was surprised; the local news reminded me more of watching soap operas. Announcers kept viewers hanging on as long as possible with breadcrumb casting spread across multiple commercials, followed by short one-sided, sensationalized nonsense that left me frustrated and dissatisfied. The world news wasn’t any better. All I heard was the American opinion; I wanted to hear the other side. How was I to be an informed world citizen if reporters only shared what they themselves found unsettling?

I stopped watching news.

I was disgusted with it and found about as much value as I do in the glut of mindless reality shows being headlined. Perhaps I’m in the minority, perhaps I was just spoiled by the news I grew up with. For the past TEN years, I’ve barely watched television at all.

After moving to Michigan, I connected with Stephen Clark on twitter. I soon learned we lived in the same area, we tweet-talked about our teenagers, marching band and school events. We connected on Facebook. Still I hesitated to turn on the news even though I knew he was an anchor with the local station’s, WXYZ Action News.

Tweeting with Stephen Clark of WXYZ Action News

During a rare moment of channel flipping my curiosity got the better of me. I saw him at his news desk and stopped to watch him on channel 7. I tweeted something out to him – he answered. I looked at the tweet appearing on my laptop and back at the tv screen. There was no computer showing on the anchor desk and he was too busy delivering the news to be chatting with me. I assumed he had someone tweeting on his behalf.

Silver Fish Hand Catch?

Days later, I noticed a twitter uproar. People tweeting and retweeting about a silver fish hand catch and Stephen Clark. After some nosing around I found a video of his newscast which meant nothing until I found this Old Spice video. Stephen tied it all together for me when he explained the event on his blog.

Social and Traditional Media Merged

I later learned Stephen had been authoring his own tweets while delivering the Detroit news, his laptop was off to the side out of view. It’s since been moved to a place of prestige on the news desk. His “silver fish hand catch” caught more attention than just mine and has blossomed into the #backchannel, a medium for bringing social media and traditional media together.

Local news became intriguing again as Stephen was reporting on items that were interesting to me. Technology, people, positive stories from Detroit. I find myself turning the tv on more frequently in the day as well, and often share my lunch with WXYZ news.

Hello my name is Pat and I watch WXYZ Action News…

That amazes me. Stephen Clark completely changed my negative opinion of the news to a positive one by interacting directly with his viewers. I see many more WXYZ Action News staff have followed Stephen’s lead and are interacting with viewers on twitter. I even got to meet some of them at the WXYZ tweetup held earlier this month.

Stephen has received many accolades for his work from within the social media community. He deserves to be recognized for his efforts in the TRADITIONAL media community as well. I wonder if WXYZ management fully understands the impact and positive influence Stephen Clark has had on viewers.

“Little drops of water make the mighty ocean.”

I’m writing a letter to WXYZ management to let them know I’m watching the news again BECAUSE of Stephen Clark. If he has positively influenced your impression of the news, I invite you to do the same. One letter may have some significance but if all of our #backchannel ‘ers wrote the station management and blogged about the sense of community Stephen Clark has created, each personal story will help management “understand” how Stephen Clark has changed traditional news delivery for us.

Send your letters, post them online, leave a link here or tweet it with the #backchannel tag…. I know there are more people out there who have found positivity in the news because of Stephen Clark!

Send your letters to:
ATTN: Ed Fernandez, VP, General Manager
WXYZ-TV
20777 West 10 Mile Road
Southfield, MI 48037

Note: the video mentions rising property values. At this time they are actually falling slightly but are stable for the most part and expected to increase slightly by mid 2011.

#140conf, originally uploaded by cletch.

Keeping myself busy before going on stage to talk about being an entrepreneur.
With left to right @DanWalker1966 @hajjflemings @Eric_Urbane @DaveMurr @TJlist

Pat Williams 248-842-5527
CyberCletch LLC
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

I plan to drive back home but will pack a bag, just in case I decide to crash at the hotel instead. Wednesday morning I’ll be heading over to the Fillmore to participate in the 140 Character Conference.

You can learn more about what I’m doing at the conference on www.CyberCletch.com.

David Burch’s 10 Reasons You Should Post Your Video Today

1. You obviously have a reason to do video if you bought all that equipment.
2. 80% of success is just showing up.
3. Success favors speed and action.
4. If you don’t do it now, when will you do it? Never.
5. It’s not going to be nearly as bad as you imagine it.
6. You *can* always delete it.
7. It’s your first video. Who cares if it’s crappy? Everyone’s attempt at *anything* is crap. So what?
8. It will help you get over yourself.
9. People on the web are looking for information. Share some information that we will care about… even if it’s lessons learned in your first attempt to make a video.
10. To get past the fear that is stopping you. Claim victory.

It’s good advice, so I listened. Thanks for the push David!

I missed the first TEDxDetroit last year because I wasn’t sure about that ROI. I watched a couple of 2009 videos and knew 2010′s presentations would be interesting as well. I applied and was honored when organizers offered me a seat for this limited attendee event.

For the past two days I’ve been contemplating how to explain what I got out of TEDxDetroit. I absolutely loved it and on many occasions was completely blown away by the talent and innovation I saw on the stage. The format was excellent, I left the DIA theater feeling as though I’d been at some epic concert rather than a business event. The mix of creatives was jaw dropping; whoever chose and set up the order of the speakers and performers was brilliant. Each was like a breath of fresh air when they took the stage.

Jessica Care Moore is only one of many who left me in awe. She stood on stage belting out masterfully woven words that wrapped my ears in lyrical wonder:

I hope to never miss another TEDxDetroit event. Bravo to the organizers, volunteers, speakers and believers – you delivered so much more than my expectations could imagine. Thank you!