Had a busy weekend with little or no time for blogging. Thanks for bearing with me.
Friday was one of my all-time favorite assignments, I got to spend the day at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.
It is a truly awesome museum and I go there whenever I get the chance, especially when I have visitors from out of the area. I always have to show off this American gem. It has millions -- seriously, millions! -- of artifacts on display in just about every category you could imagine. The only thing missing, for me, is the space program. They should have an Apollo capsule or space suit.
Among the artifacts are all sorts of cars, trucks, motorcycles, sleighs, fire engines, locomotives, stage coaches, and bicycles. It also has the chair in which Lincoln was sitting when he was shot, the car Kennedy was riding in when he was assassinated, and Thomas Edison's last breath sealed in a test tube.
You can read my article here.
How did I get to go there for a workday?
The newspaper has been running a weekly feature called "Short Stops" this summer, about places of interest that are a short drive away. I had mentoined the Henry Ford Museum to the editors early in the summer and then this week they really needed something and asked me if I could do it. I of course said yes, although I had to rearrange my week's schedule and get everything done in four days instead of the usual five.
After visiting the museum I hooked up with Rev. John Peck, an old friend who moved from Toledo to Dearborn to pastor a church. He brought along a friend who is a minister in the inner city. It was great to see John and he and the other minister are doing some great things in Detroit.
One of their programs is called the B.O.M.B. Squad, which stands for Bring Our Men Back. It's designed to teach men to be responsible Christians and they meet at 6 a.m. on Saturdays! When the men graduate from the program they receive a sword and are knighted in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
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A few notable deaths occurred recently including the great R&B singer Isaac Hayes and comedian/actor Bernie Mac. Then last Friday the man who coined the phrase "rhythm and blues" passed away: Jerry Wexler was 91.
Wexler was one of the most influential executives in rock and roll history, signing Led Zeppelin to a contract and producing many landmark albums.

Among the important recordings he produced were Ray Charles' "I Got a Woman" in 1954 and "What I'd Say" in 1959; Booker T. & the MG's "Green Onions" in 1962; Wilson Pickett's "In the Midnight Hour" in 1965; Aretha Franklin's "Respect" (1967); Dr. John's "Iko Iko" (1972); Will Nelson's "Bloody Mary Morning" (1974); Dire Straits' "Lady Writer" (1979) and Bob Dylan's "Gotta Serve Somebody" (1979).
That is an impressive lifetime achievement and a lasting legacy for someone in the rock and roll business.
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I read Joe Eszterhas' new book, "Crossbearer," over the weekend. He is the tough-talking, dark-side-of-life explorer who wrote "Jagged Edge," "Basic Instince" and "Showgirls." Now he is "saved," as he put it himself.
Joe had throat cancer, was addicted to tobacco and alcohol, and just couldn't handle it anymore when he asked God for help. God miraculously cleaned him up and turned his life around.
Eszterhas now lives in the Cleveland area where he grew up and is going to a Catholic church every week and the most important things in his life are family and God.
I'll be interviewing him by phone on Wednesday.
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Time to watch a little more of the Olympics. Like a lot of people I know, I am hooked on this display of athletic perfection.
What about Michael Phelps' 8 Gold Medals? He definitely deserved it, what a fierce competitor and amazing swimmer. But he's not much of an interviewee. It's been painful watching him answer questions on the Today Show live from Beijing and in post-swim interviews. He doesn't have to be a good interviewee, though. He's certainly the greatest swimmer in history to this point and that speaks for itself.
Gymnastics was great, especially the two American women winning the Gold and Silver, and the beach volleyball duo of May-Treaner and Walsh were incredible, especially when they overcame 5 match points to beat the Belgian team.
The soccer coverage has been terrific, too, with one channel showing the Olympic matches continuously without commercials. I love soccer and when I turn on the channel I have a hard time turning away.
Go USA!
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Sylvania, Ohio
August 18, 2008