Semi-Pro, Flint Michigan

I saw the movie "Semi-Pro" today. It was OK - kind of funny but not as funny as I expected. I was looking forward to seeing it because it was filmed in Flint. It was cool to see Flint on film and hear it mentioned so many times. My stepson and nephew really liked the movie - a good time was had by all.

I saw the preview for the "Sex and the City" movie coming out in May. I got excited! I can't wait to go see that - it looks good, although it seems like they gave away all the details in the preview.

FLINT, MICHIGAN

In an article on MSN, from Forbes.com, rated Flint the 3rd most miserable city. Detroit was the first. I believe that both Detroit and Flint are in the top ten of America's most dangerous cities also. It is just sad. I love Michigan. I grew up outside of Detroit and have much love for Detroit - my Dad is from Detroit. I have lived outside the Flint area going on 13 years now. I have a lot of love for Flint too. I hope and pray that both Detroit and Flint can be revitalized. It is going to take a miracle. A lot needs to be done, I am not sure I can grasp the scope of it all. We need jobs, we need people to start visiting the cities again - shop there, attend events, etc. Flint has a lot to offer and there are some great people striving to make things better. There is an awesome cutlural center in Flint - The Whiting (Flint Symphony Orchestra), The Flint Institute of Music (I have take lessons there, it is a great resource), Flint Instiute of Arts, The Longway Planetarium, and a lot more. I go to school in Flint - at Mott Community College. It is a great place to go to school. Having U of M in Flint is helping to revitalize the downtown but more jobs, more people visiting the city, restaurants, stores, are needed downtown. It is hard because people will not go downtown (and spend money) because there isn't any stores or many restaurants; but no one will open up any stores or restaurants down there because there are not many people spending money downtown (and because of the negative reputation). Flint and Detroit need bigtime help, government help. The state of Michigan does not have any money. We are in bad shape. We need to develop new industries but no one wants to pay anyone a decent wage. We need the U.S. government to do something or this whole country is going to continue going down hill and will end up like Flint and Detroit. So many, many layers of problems.

http://realestate.msn.com/Buying/Article_forbes.aspx?cp-documentid=6171960

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0921299.html

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/11/18/dangerous.cities.ap/