Grand Rapids schools to be warm, safe and dry

On Election Day, voters Grand Rapids voted on a tax to keep Grand Rapids Public Schools warm, safe and dry, the tax passing with 52.9 percent of the vote.

            A 1-mill, 5-year sinking fund tax will help renovate the district’s oldest buildings, such as repairing air conditioning systems, roofs and window and brick repair. The tax will generate approximately $4 million annually and will cost the average homeowner, with a median house worth $108,000, an average of $54 a year.

            Buildings that will see renovations include City High Middle School, Central High School, Ottawa High School and Congress Elementary, which is over 100 years old.

            “I think the tax passed because people see the contributions GRPS has made to the community,” said Kyle Pray, campaign manager for Warm, Safe and Dry Schools. “The sell is not hard: warm, safe and dry schools for  kids.”

            The issue arose back in the spring during the 2011-2012 school year budget process with the board of education, board member Maureen Slade said.

 “The issue of repairs is always an issue as a result of loss of state aid and need to keep cuts away from the class room,” Slade said.

            Board member Jon O’Connor said by just replacing the boiler system in City High School that dates back in the 1960s, there is a potential of saving 10 to 20 percent of energy, which will reduce the city’s utility cost.

            “As education is priority no. 1,” O’Connor said, “we felt the prudent choice was to ask the taxpayers for a small millage that would ensure valuable dollars for the classroom repairs.”

            Pray said he felt optimistic during the whole campaign since he was hired in August.

            “We had bi-partisan support and endorsements, no opposition, and a group of committed individuals working to get the millage passed,” Pray said.

            The campaign launched on Sept. 19, once the issue was confirmed to be on the November ballot, Pray said several individuals, strategists, planners, community activists and advocates formed the committee.  The committee used multiple components to campaign for the tax. It held a launch at Congress Elementary, gathered endorsements, knocked on doors, sent mailings and used social media.  

            Now that city passed the tax, repairs will go into effect immediately. Not only will the tax provide Grand Rapids students with warm, safe and dry classrooms, but it will also invest in energy and water conservation, improve air quality and reduce waste sent to landfills. It also supports the community’s GRPS Five Year Strategic Plan to increase graduation rates and academic outcomes for students.

            Grand Rapids is no stranger to renovating its school buildings. The city passed a similar tax in 2004 that supported a $165 million bond issue to renovate 11 the district’s elementary and middle school facilities.  The only difference between the 2004 bond and the new sinking fund is that the sinking fund will only focus on repairs and replacement of capital improvements, not a construction of new buildings.

            Superintendent Bernard Taylor addressed the passing of the tax at the Nov. 14 board meeting. He said that it was a close election, but passing the mileage “speaks volumes of the willingness of this community to support the children in our schools by digging deep during very hard economic times.”

            There are still “house cleaning” issues the board and district have to deal with, Pray said. Initial meetings will happen throughout the school year to discuss process and procedures on how to utilize the funds in the best way.

            “Like the old adage ‘people will walk 10 miles through a snow storm to vote no, but won't walk across the street to vote yes,’” Pray said. “But if our grade schools are not up to snuff, then how can we expect our students to achieve all this city has to offer?  The voters agreed.”

What does it meant to be an American?

Photo from americansolidarity.org

An "American." People and politicians are throwing that word around left and right. Sophisticated presidential candidate, Michele Bachmann, defined two new vocabulary words for the country to learn. Pro-America and Anti-America. You can buy bumper stickers and shirts that say, "Don't blame me. I voted for the American."

What does that even mean? If you're democrat, you're anti-American? Just because people believe in different things, you're anti-American? Whatever happened to being born and raised in the United States and loving your country? Is that not the meaning of being an "American" is anymore? If we can change the 235 year old definition of an "American" why can't we change the 2,000+ year old definition of marriage. Would that be "anti-American" too?

Your sexuality, religious beliefs, and upbringing doesn't determine whether you are "pro-America" or "anti-America." The whole idea of America was "freedom." In Lee Greenwood's song "Proud to be an American," he sings:

I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free.

Do we need to be reminded that America first started from a group of people who flocked to the New World to practice their religion without persecution? Remember that story you learned in elementary school called the Pilgrims and the Mayflower?

The Star Spangled Banner lyrics say

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

The Preamble states

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

The Declaration of Independence says

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Not everyone is free. African Americans weren't considered "free" until after the Civil War. Women weren't considered "free" until 1920 when their opinions suddenly mattered. African Americans fought again in the 1960s because they couldn't use the same doors as whites, had to sit in the back of the bus (exception: Rosa Parks), and even had different schools. Today, the LGBT community is fighting for their freedom, which they are slowly getting with baby steps.

Restricting rights on your own people where it clearly states in the Declaration of Independence that everyone is create equal? That's anti-American. Applauding that your own people are dying because they don't have health care? That sounds anti-American. Booing your own solider in uniform, overseas in Afghanistan, who is defending your country, just because he is gay? That's anti-American.

Are you anti-American because you have a different skin color than the majority of the population, a different skin color than your Founding Fathers? Are you anti-American because you were born in a different country, became a U.S. citizen, but still are proud of the country to came from? Are you anti-American because you are not a Christian but Muslim, Jewish or Hindu?

Are you anti-American if you don't believe in a god at all?

What if you just love America, what if you're proud of your country, support the troops fighting for you, and support your people? Isn't that what being an American is? America is a unique nation, we're all diverse. We all have different upbringings, different religious beliefs, we all look different--we all have a different story. The immigrants who came to this country from a half a world away build America's foundation. Not one of them were the same.

I can tell you that those firefighters and police officers who saved people's lives after 9/11 are all different. Some were white, black, republican, and democrat, but they teamed together to save lives and rebuild New York City. The Iwo Jima soldiers were all different with different backgrounds and stories, but that didn't matter when they raised the American flag. Soldiers fighting today are all different, but they still wear the American flag stitched onto their uniform everyday before defending our country.

Being a republican or democrat doesn't determine whether you are an American. Being white or black doesn't determine whether you're an American, and believing in God or Allah doesn't determine whether you're an American.

Living in American and have an constant love for your people and your country, that's what determines if you're "pro-America" or "anti-America." If you celebrate the Fourth of July, mourn on September 11th, Pearl Harbor and D-Day, you're an American. If you get teary eyed when an Olympic athlete stands on the podium, holding the American flag around them while they sing to the national anthem, you're an American. If you get goosebumps when you hear the Star Spangled Banner, you're an American.

If you get emotional when you hear, "America: land of the free and home for the brave," then you're an American.

Ohio public workers crush Senate Bill 5

Photo from clevelandleader.com

The Ohio people have spoken. They hate Senate Bill 5--so they killed it.

Senate Bill 5 is an anti-union labor law that would effect up to 350,000 workers including teachers, police officers, firefighters and nurses. The bill lost by 61 percent to 39 percent.

Republican Gov. John Kasich proposed the polarizing bill to limit collective bargaining, ban public worker strikes, eliminate binding arbitration, eliminate "fair share fees" that require payments for non union workers, place caps on three personal sick days,  12 paid holidays and would cap teacher's salaries to $32,000, eliminate automatic pay raises and enforce merit pay (pay based on standardize test scores, which not all teachers do i.e. art, music and physical education teachers), prohibits seniority for main reason in lay offs, and requires public workers to pay 15 percent of their health care costs and contribute 10 percent of their salary towards their pension.

Senate Bill 5 has been Gov. Kasich's main focus, causing his approval rating to plummet down to 33 percent in the recent Public Policy Polling poll. Because it was such a significant bill, Ohio saw a record in voting numbers for an off year election.

But it wasn't just Republicans voting "yes" on the bill (a "yes" would be supporting the limitations on unions) and Democrats voting "no." In the PPP poll released Nov. 6, which indicated that 59 percent of likely voters would vote "no" for the bill, 43 considered themselves conservatives, 27 percent considered themselves liberals and 31 considered themselves moderate. The poll had a margin of error of +/- 3 percent.

Ohio teachers, police officers and firefights can rejoice. They won the battle and went straight for Kasich's most prized possession, his Senate Bill 5.

RIP Senate Bill 5.

Michigan under scrutiny for "anti-bullying" law

According to Bullypolice.org, a site that rates states' bullying laws, forty-seven states have anti-bullying laws. Michigan is the only state that seems to encourage bullying.


Senate Republicans gave the Mitten state a surprise smack in the face when they signed Matt's Safe Law, after 14 year old Matt Epling committed suicide in 2002 because of anti-gay bullying in school. The law passed the senate with 26 Republican votes and 11 Democrat votes, and has moved on to the lower house. The bill "does not prohibit a statement of a sincerely held belief or moral conviction."

In other words, if the bully finds a moral or religious reason for tormenting his/her victim that's OK under Michigan law.

Senator Gretchen Whitmer responded to the passing of the bill, saying that the bill "has set us back farther, creating a blue print for bullying." Epling's father, Kevin Epling, is outraged at the law and is "ashamed" of it. He uploaded a Youtube video on Nov. 3 to express his opinions about the law that uses his son's name. He has also called the bill "government-sanctioned bigotry."

Whitmer wrote in a release that, "the Senate Republicans chose to play politics with this critically important issue that resulted in a bill that would actually leave Michigan’s students less protected than they already are."

Since the bill has passed on Nov. 2, Michigan Republican's are willing to compromise. Speaker of the House, Jase Bolger, R-Marshall, plans to "bring everyone in the middle of the road and provide protection to all students." Bolger even wrote on his Twitter to say, "Bullying is wrong & the reason for bullying should not make it worse nor excused."

Gay, transgender, straight, white, black, Native American, Jewish or Christian, no matter who you are or what you believe in, no one deserves bullying. End of story.

Nickelback to ruin Detroit's Thanksgiving

Photo from sports.espn.go.com

Nothing says “Happy Thanksgiving” like a table filled with America’s favorite feasting foods, reuniting with your favorite dysfunctional family members and hearing the sweet sounds of Nickelback, serenading you as you munch away on a plateful of turkey.

That’s how Detroit might celebrate Thanksgiving, at least. Just when you thought sitting with your family and/or your in-laws was bad, the Motor City found a different way to torture you on the holidays.

The band known for their overplayed music and horrendous voices, that make Rebecca Black and Miley Cyrus sound like Celine Dion and Whitney Houston, are not occupying Wall Street, but plan on occupying Detroit’sThanksgiving game half time show.

Come on, Detroit. You’re already known for being the worst team in football history (once upon a time), your 0-16 record engraved on the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the rest of eternity. You really need to punish your 6-2 team and your excited fans with Nickelback? Really? Do you have ears? Go out and celebrate that awesome record with.

Fans are so upset, they are signing an online petition to have the Lions boot the band back to Canada.

Can’t you please your city with Eminem, Kid Rock, Bob Seger, Alice Cooper or show a little respect with Aretha Franklin?

This is America. Nickelback doesn’t even celebrate Thanksgiving! Reason 23135 why they should come.

Maybe Baby Jesus will bless the city with an early Christmas miracle. Let’s celebrate America with football, food and good music—with a band that actually celebrates Thanksgiving and that doesn't sound like an elephant slowly dying.

The Maury Show: The Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift edition

Photo from billboard.com

Just in a couple days of each other, celebrity good girl and good boy have rumors circling around them.

Maury asked Justin if he was the father of a four month old baby, claimed by a 20 year old fan, Mariah Yeater. Of course, he said no--or tweeted it.

It is the 21st century after all.

What happens in the Staple Center, stays in the Staple Center...sometimes. Yeater claims she and Justin had a thing after one of his shows last year and now claims he his the father of her baby.

She is taking legal action against him, demanding that he take a paternity test.


Yeater pulled a January Jones. Not only did she leave the father's name blank on the birth certificate, she's claiming a successful celebrity (who just so happens to have release his Christmas CD yesterday) is the father of her baby--like how the press thinks Ashton Kutcher (who just so happens to be Charlie Sheen's replacement on "Two and a Half Men") is the father of Jones' baby.

Because Bliebers, the way to Justin's heart is to announce to the world he is the father of your baby. Yeah, he'll get right on that.

Justin tweeted, "So I'm going to ignore the rumors...and focus on what is real. an opportunity to help by doing what i love. Judge me on the music! Love yall!"

Don't worry, Justin. Your fans belieb you.

Wonder how his girlfriend Selena Gomez feels. He did, after all, rent out the Staples Center so the two could watch Rose letting go of Jack. Guess the Staples Center is his wingman.

And then there is Taylor Swift who may or may not have pulled a Vanessa Hutchins. Over the weekend, Celebrity Jihad posted a nude photo of the country singer. The site is known for being a little bizarre. It says its a satirical website, given a disclaimer on the page.  Despite Swift threatening to take legal action against the site, Celebrity Jihad still has the photo up, but will only take it down under one condition.

If Swift converts to Islam, and if she sacrifices a goat and "devour its entrails."

It's like The Onion gone wrong.

Swift is currently on tour, wearing kitten shirts and singing songs with no profanity in them. Her monologue song for her first ever hosting gig on SNL was about how she loves things that smell like winter and glitter. Singing songs about Joe Jonas and John Mayer are the most scandalous things she has done.

Guess you're not considered a celebrity until someone starts a rumor about you. Welcome to Hollywood.

Rick Snyder not on Michigan's list of favorite things

Photo from teapartytribune.com

Michigan voters dislike Gov. Rick Snyder almost as much as American voters dislike Barack Obama.

              Snyder might have won governor by a landslide, sweeping 58 percent of the votes against Virg Bernero, but now, Michigan voters regret their decision. An EPIC-MRA poll discovered that 59 percent of voters gave Snyder a negative rating. Twenty-eight percent said he was doing a fair job when 31 percent said he was doing a poor job.

              Fifty-two percent of Michigan voters said in the same poll that they believe Michigan has seriously gotten off on the wrong track.

               As for Obama, 61 percent of American voters said gave him a negative rating, 26 percent said he was doing a fair job and 35 percent said he was doing a poor job. The number of voters drastically increased when talking about the country's direction. Seventy-one percent believe that the U.S. has gotten off on the wrong track.

               People might be occupying Wall Street, but some Michigan voters, also known as the Committee to Recall Snyder, occupied city streets throughout the state, holding up signs to persuade pedestrians to sign a petition to recall Snyder. Protesters collected over 800,000 signatures. The hunt for signatures ended last month. The committee hoped to get enough signatures for the November ballot. In order to get on the ballot, the committee needed more than one million.

               Among protesers, the Michigan Education Association teacher union fought to recall Snyder. Votes by lawmakers threatened to take away collective bargaining rights from public employees, like what other states, such as Wisconsin and Ohio, are currently going through.

              Snyder isn't the only Michigan governor who had people protesting against him. Michigan's previous three governors, Jennifer Granholm, John Engler and James Blanchard found their names on cardboard signs throughout the streets of Michigan. None of the three petitions made it to the ballot.

             A Public Policy Polling survey found that 45 percent of registered voters said if they could do last year's election over again, they would vote for Bernero. Another 45 percent said they would stick with Snyder, with the remaining 10 percent not sure.

            PPP polled 593 Michigan voters from July 21 to July 24. The poll was conducted on July 29, 2011. Thirty percent of the poll takers mostly considered themselves as moderate, 40 percent said they were conservative while 30 percent said they were liberal. The margin of error was +/- 4 percent.

           EPIC-MRA polled 600 likely and active voters from Oct. 1 through Oct. 4. The margin of error was +/- 4 percent.       

IT department on its way to recovery

Photo from articulate.com

Over the last four years, Grand Rapids’ information technology department has been under scrutiny for its severely aged technology that has cost the city tons of money.

            The IT department continues to reorganize from the problems it faced back in 2007 when then City Manager Kurt Kimball laid off the department’s three managers because of the lack of upgrades to the system’s technology. After an outside consultant reviewed the technology, the city found out it needed $6 million worth of upgrades.

            Ruth Lueders, the deputy comptroller for the city, said that the IT department’s internal service charges, along with its cost allocation methods, have been under considerable review since then.

            “It’s the IT department,” said the new director of the IT department, Paul Klimas. “It shouldn’t be getting all this press.”

            Kimball hired Klimas in 2007 to transform, reorganize and retool the department. Since he has taken over the department, Klimas has saved the city $1.8 million. He changed its internet speed from a very slow 4 mb per second to a fast 40 m per second. Before the internet change, Klimas said 1,200 users were using the 4mb internet, explaining that a home DSL internet has only 1.5 mb. A city the size of Grand Rapids should not be running on a speed as slow as 4 mb, he said.

            “The internet was ridiculously slow,” Klimas said.

            He also increased the network speeds from 1 GB to 10 GB. Klimas and the department changed the aged telephone system that was debt-financed. The departmental adapted a new financial system, too.

            “Technology needs to be changed every three years,” Klimas said. “Think about how long laptops last. That’s how often we need to change our technology.”

            The numbers show the department’s success since Klimas became the new director.For the 2011-2012 fiscal year, the department is getting an estimate of $6.19 million to operate. During the 2007-2008 fiscal year, before the drastic change, the department received $8.75 million showing that the department has taken a turn for the better not only technologically, but financially.

            The IT department’s mission is to maintain a stable enterprise technology system infrastructure and guide the city in leveraging proven information technology in the accomplishment of the city’s and each unit’s mission.

            The department is also known as Information Technology and Change Management. This means that the department is also in charge to optimize work performance, make work environment more suitable and even deal with health-related issues.

            “We make sure people like working for the city,” Klimas said.

            The department runs like a non-profit. The city departments go to IT to manage their software. Klimas described the IT department as an internal business because the department sells their services to other city departments.  IT is in charge of networks, software and desktop services.

            In the four years Klimas has taken over the department, the department has reduced its staffing by 40 percent. The department was overstaffed before the department downfall. More staff means more money the department needs, and in the tough economy, departments have to be more conservative on money. Thirty-four percent of the department’s budget is for the staff, the rest is for hardware maintenance and capital.  

            “The economic downturn and state reduction in revenue sharing have led cost cutting in every department for the past several years,” Lueders said.

            Only two people make up the actual IT department, Klimas and another supervisor. The rest of the 30 members of the staff are under contracts, some working in other states on the city’s technology.

            Financial analyst Gary Mortensen said the departments make their own financial plan for the fiscal year to let the budget office know how much money they need. Certain authorities in each department project wages. The budget will go to the CFO, then the city manager and then the city commission approves it.

            “It’s a very dry process,” Mortensen said.     

            The city manager will review the IT department’s budget on Dec. 3, but the final approval won’t happen until June 14 during a public hearing with the city commission. 

Taylor Swift sets future concert standards

Taylor Swift talks to the crowd.

 Taylor Swift, how do you expect your fans to speak now when after every concert you leave them speechless?
           If you were impressed with her first headlining world tour "Fearless," then you would be speechless after witnessing her second world tour "Speak Now." Taylor Swift out beat all her other concerts with more sets, costumes, dancer, instruments and even special effects. If you are iffy on Swift to begin with, the "Speak Now" tour will convert you.
          Not only did she sound amazing, the show itself was unbelievable. Swift opened up with "Sparks Fly," got a little feisty for "Better than Revenge," and got a little sentimental on the piano in "Back to December," laced with "Apologize" by One Republic and her second album song "You're Not Sorry." The melancholic sounds actually made you sympathize with her. Her musicianship was so strong at the concert, you couldn't help but say, "Aw Tay Swift, we feel bad for you breaking Taylor Lautner's poor fragile heart."
           Each song had it's own digital backdrop it help transform her song into a Broadway-esque show. Swift brought "Speak Now" to life with a wedding ceremony, which she crashed in order to "speak now." "Back to December" brought December to July with snow fluttering on screen and on stage.
          Her voice was strong (stronger than what people at home hear when she sings on TV) and broaden her musical skills to multiple instruments such as guitar, piano, banjo and she even broke out the good ole ukulele for "Fearless" mixed with "Hey, Soul Sister" by Train. Those stuck on the opposite side of the stage got a great surprise when Swift walked through the floor from the main stage to the end stage decked out with a fiber-optic tree where she sang "Fearless," "Last Kiss" and "You Belong With Me." Fans stormed the floor, in hopes to catch a better view of the country singer. Then, just like what she does best, Swift hopped off the stage and hugged her fans on the other side of the floor, made her journey towards the main stage, and finished off "You Belong With Me."
           Sparks flew when she sang "Dear John" (literally) as fireworks lit up the Quicken Loans arena to highlight her rage towards a certain singer named John. Then the stage settled down for a piano ballad and a chorus of strings for an intro to "Enchanted."
           She dedicated "Long Live" to her fans before she came out for her encore. She went old school with "Fifteen," showing pictures of her band when they were fifteen and pictures of them now on the screen.
           And if that wasn't enough to make the night the best night of the summer, Swift hopped on a little platform and hovered over her fans, making sure everyone got close to her even in the worse seats.
           With great sets, props, intros into beloved songs, instruments and Taylor Swift herself, the "Speak Now" tour is definitely puts a new meaning to her lyrics "this night is flawless don't you let it go."
          We were wonderstruck blushing all the way home.

Andrew McMahon is a musical god

Lead singer Andrew McMahon talks to crowd.

How do you know you are a musical god? Simple.
          1. You can pack in a couple hundred people in a 92 degree theater and not have anyone leave because it's too hot.
          2. You play your Baldwin piano the majority of the concert, but you somehow are more entertaining than pop artists with pretentious sets. And you like to jump off your Baldwin occasionally to spice things up.
           3. You use two microphones while sitting playing the piano. You're that amazing, one microphone isn't enough to capture all your talent.
          4. You're the lead singer of Jack's Mannequin.
          Andrew had people cheering for him while Lady Danville and Steel Train opened up for the band. Hundreds of people dripped sweat in the Omni Theater in Toledo to see one band, one piano and one mastermind behind the piano rock music. Tickets only cost $20, but the show could have fooled you into thinking it was worth more. And they didn't even need dancers, backgrounds or costume changes to do that.
           Jack's Mannequin opened with "Annie Use Your Telescope," and played all of their well-loved songs that made the high leveled testosterone guys plow their way in the middle at their failed attempts to start a mosh pit. "Bruised," "The Mixed Tape," "Swim," and the one that seems like the crowd surfing induced, "Bloodshot," which even makes Andrew climb on top of his piano, dance around and then jump back on stage.
            The band quickly felt the effects of the radiating heat. Drenched in sweat just like his audience, McMahon said that Toledo was the hottest show they ever had.
           "It's hotter than the devil's armpit," McMahon told the crowd. "But we're going to fight through the heat."
            And they did.
            They surprised the audience with a couple new songs before mentioning that their third album will come out sometime in the fall after the three year wait since their second album "The Glass Passenger" came out in the fall of 2008.
            The band ended the performance with "Made For Each Other/You Can Breathe." The crowd chanted, "one more song," and within two minutes, the band took their spots and played three more songs for an encore, including the ballad "Hammers and Strings," "Dark Blue" and "La La Lie" where McMahon ended the night playing his harmonica.

It doesn't take a supreme being to make a jammed pack, non air conditioned theater filled with hundreds of people forget about their stench, dehydration and profuse sweating and cause them to huddle even closer to the stage, jump to the beat of music, and walk out of the show saying, "God, that was amazing."

         Only Jack's Mannequin.

A Rocket to the Moon lands in Michigan

Go Radio rocked out with their ear gages. Runner Runner hit on on young girls (so you need to hide yo kids, hide yo wives, and hide yo husbands because Runner Runner is creepin' on eurybody out here), Anarbor head banged with their hippie hair and half shut eyes, Valencia acted somewhat normal and then A Rocket to the Moon serenaded the adoring fans for their first headlining tour,"On Your Side."

Lead singer, Nick Santino

         A Rocket to the Moon sold out the show in Pontiac, Mich., attracting fans of all ages, skinny jean, converse wearing twelve years old, to crowd surfing drunken college students, to parents lounging in cushioned couches in the back of the Eagle Theatre. Nick Santino and gang were more laid back than headbangers Anarbor, but easily won over their fans by singing 14 of their songs from both their first full length album "On Your Side," to older songs from their EP "Greetings From..."
            Nick even gave a special shout out to Pontiac, saying how it was The Eagle Theatre where he and guitarist Justin Richards wrote their hit "Like We Used To" in the parking lot the year before. The song was their first song to play on the radio and the crowd went nuts when they found out the story behind the beloved summer romance song. 
           Santino demanded that the audience sing louder than him during "Dakota" and his wish was granted. Even after their exited, the crowd chanted "one more song," and just 30 seconds later, Nick, Justin, Andrew, and Eric "The Mouthbreather" came back on stage to sing the fans two more songs, ending their sold out concert with "Mr. Right." 
           Fans walked away satisfied and still wanting more. But does A Rocket to the Moon ever disappoint? The answer is no. Starting in May, the Rocket crew will launch over across the pound to charm their British fans alongside Mayday Parade, and will go down under capture the hearts of Aussie's, kangaroos, and fans in Indonesia with Hey Monday.

Kesha coats CMU with glitter

Kesha gets crowd worked up with machine gun guitar.

Glitter-covered eyes, stockings ripped all up the side, teased hair, smurf lipstick and the stench of a couple bottles of Jack. If you ever find yourself lost in a crowd like this, you know you're only at one place: a Ke$ha concert.

Ke$ha hosted a sold out party at Central Michigan University on Feb. 25 as part of her first headlining tour "Get Sleazy." Kids off all ages packed into the McGuirk Arena, hoping to dance the night away with 2010 biggest selling artist. Yes, kids of all ages. Mostly drunken college students, but if you looked close enough, you could maybe even spot an 8-year-old girl in the lower bowl.

But from a college kid's perspective and old enough fans, Ke$ha delivered better than people would expect.
"I came here to party," she told the crowd. "Are you guys ready to party?"

She didn't let the audience down. Energetic, some drunk, some not, pushed their way closer to the stage the very second the arena lights dimmed to black. Ke$ha  played with synthesizers, electric guitars (who knew she could do that?), and even busted out a theremin, an instrument where you place your hands next to a beam and control the frequency and volume (listen to "Good Vibrations" by the Beach Boys).

   Society has underestimated her. America has only seen her struggle through her performances on TV, but much surprise to those Ke$ha haters, her vocals were spot on, never sounded out of tune and were enjoyable. She shot glitter into the audience with her glitter cannons, she even brought a guy up on stage, saran wrapped him to a chair for her song "Grow a Pear" were a dancing pear came out to join the party.

    One of the highlights of the night was when Ms. Jack Daniels slowed it down and showed the crowd a little bit of her sensitive side when she performed her newest and rarest slow song, "The Harold Song."

   Although the show was a success and Ke$ha proved anyone who has doubted her that they were wrong, the parents who brought their 8-year-old daughter to the show needed to go. At what point do parents get that Ke$ha is not Taylor Swift, or Miley Cyrus pre salvia smoking days? Have they heard the opening line to "Tik Tok?" Have they heard the sexual innuendos in "Blah Blah Blah?" Maybe they understood after the dance party that Ke$ha is not what an 8-year-old should be listening to, let alone, allowing her go to a concert where F bombs dropped all over the place from her horrible, hillbilly opener Beardo, singing songs about how he snorted cocaine at age 11 and saying "F--- school" in one of his songs. Maybe it was when Ke$ha came out talking about past sexual experiences (except for she used a more vulgar term to refer to the act) or the dancing penis on stage during "Grow a Pear."  The 8-year-old girl probably had a reality check when her idol smashed an Elmo pinata with a bat. You're not on Sesame Street anymore, 8-Year-Old Girl. Welcome to a Ke$ha party.

         So parents, don't expect Ke$ha to catered to your bad parenting. She will continued to sing about drinking, dancing and partying. Your 8-year-old is  not cordially invited unless if you want her to learn some interesting vocabulary terms.

As for her "Get Sleazy Tour" it's definitely worth your money and will be one of the most entertaining concerts you will go to.

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