So the next time you enjoy Fruit Loops, Frosted Flakes or Apple Jacks, or when you pull out those sticky, gooey, marshmallow-y Rice Krispie Treats and serve them to your dinner guests, you'll know which state to thank.
Aside from making great cereal, Kellogg's has also been helping people enjoy dessert for breakfast since 1964.
"Did you eat?" becomes "Ja eat?" and "Kind of like this" becomes "Kinuh like this." Instead of using "both" we'd prefer to use "bolth," and if we want you to "come here" we'll just tell you to "c'meer." And of course, saying "bolth" of the syllables in "soda" was too much effort, so we just say "pop" instead.
Abraham Lincoln actually coined the term "Michigander" to make presidential candidate (and Michigan Governor) Lewis Cass sound foolish-like a goose. A century and a half later, it's possibly the coolest word to use when referring to all of Michigan's residents. Thanks, Abe!
"Yoopers" are the three percent of Michigan's population that occupy the Upper Peninsula, and we "Flatlanders" have a great thing going with them. We head to the U.P. once a year to spend money "up north" and make fun of them, and they take our money and tell us to never come back. But I know they don't really mean it.
Although Ohio "won" the Toledo War and got Toledo for its trouble, Michigan acquired the Upper Peninsula and statehood in the process. So who really won? We did!
Because it's super easy to get there, everyone in Michigan has been to Canada at least once. And, yes, Canada counts as a foreign country.
Michigan's convenient mitten shape allows Michiganders to instinctively whip out their hands to point to the location of the place they're identifying, and it actually works!
If you ever need to make an emergency space shuttle landing, the watery borders of the Great Lakes make the Michigan mitten stand out from any orbit, allowing you to steer yourself to a friendly territory. I can't guarantee the landing will go well, but you'll be somewhat close to home.
Michigan has the largest freshwater coast in the country (and one of the largest coastlines, period) with 3,288 miles of shoreline. Who cares if it's actually spread out over four lakes? It still counts.
If there's one thing you can count on every year, it's that the Detroit Lions are going to lose, and we cheer for them anyway. And we're also prepared to mock any fans that defect, like Grand Rapids residents that cheer for Chicago teams because "Chicago is technically closer to us than Detroit if you travel across the lake." Shut. Up.
The Motown era aside, punk rock (Iggy Pop), arena rock (Ted Nugent), heartland rock (Bob Seger), hip hop (Eminem) and techno (Detroit is the birthplace) have all been influenced or mastered by a headlining, Michigan-based act.
Saying Eminem is your favorite rapper may be as boring as saying your favorite flavor of ice cream is vanilla, but even people who hate rap still like "Lose Yourself," and they've probably watched "8 Mile," too.
This St. Joseph native's Sports Illustrated cover photo is probably the most impractical wearing of a winter coat in history, but I don't think anyone cares.
For a place called the Wolverine State, Michigan has been a little light on wolverines for quite a while. In fact, the first wolverine sighting in 200 years took place in 2004. Hey, at least we have one, right?
There's a Coney Island diner on practically every corner, and that's because Michiganders can't get enough of hot dog perfection. Don't ask for a Coney without the meat, mustard or onions. If it doesn't have all three, it's not a Coney.
Buddy's and Shield's serve up the perfect hybrid of Chicago and New York-style pizzas. It's a Sicilian symphony on a plate.
The Nain Rouge is the "red dwarf" or "red gnome" known as the "harbinger of doom" in Detroit for centuries. Nowadays, he's the harbinger of good times as the mascot of the "Detroit Dwarf" lager.
Woody the gnome is still the mascot of Vernor's-the strongest mainstream ginger ale on the market. Plus, he's ten times cooler than the Coca Cola polar bears.
It's true that not as many of the Big Three automakers' vehicles are manufactured in the Motor City, but as long as they're headquartered in Michigan, we're still the conceptual home of the American automotive industry.
With more than 40 furniture manufacturers and five of the largest office furniture companies on the planet, Grand Rapids is still "Furniture City, USA."
When Ash told the "primitive screwheads" from Army of Darkness about the facts of life, he emphasized his point with a Michigan-made shotgun ("This sweet baby was made in Grand Rapids, Michigan"). And, yes, actor Bruce Campbell and director Sam Raimi are ours, too.
As arguably the best public university in the United States, and unquestionably the best in the Midwest, the University of Michigan has been churning out brilliant minds and brilliant sports moments for nearly 200 years. Who cares if we almost never beat State in football anymore?
The Club Wolverine Elite Team has been one of the best swim clubs in the world for decades. Hey, if it was good enough for Michael Phelps, it should be good enough for you. The University of Michigan's Men's Swimming Team also captured the 2013 NCAA Championship, and even the Michigan Masters team won the 2013 USMS National Title.
Nearly half of the 2014 U.S. Olympic Figure Skating Team has Michigan ties, including ice dancing gold medalists Meryl Davis and Charlie White.
Forget simply being "Hockeytown, USA." The Detroit Red Wings proved they can win Stanley Cup Championships whether they're composed of Canadians, Russians or Swedes.
Yes, Michigan and Michigan State have each won NCAA Championships in hockey, but so has everybody else in the state. Michigan Tech, Lake Superior State and Northern Michigan University have all been NCAA hockey champions at least once in recent memory.
The American Jewelry and Loan shop from "Hardcore Pawn" isn't as pretentious as the shop from "Pawn Stars." This isn't where you go to watch the sale of historical artifacts (and awkward Subway product placements); this is where you go to watch Detroiters mug for the camera while trying to sell three-dollar Rolexes for 50 grand.
Yes, the Michigan Dogman is a certified hoax, but who cares? The fraudulent video of the Dogman is the Cadillac of man-made creature hoax videos, and the guy who put the whole thing together deserves an Academy Award for costume design.
"The whole rhythm section was The Purple Gang! Let's rock!" The colorful Detroit bootleggers, who live forever in the lyrics to "Jailhouse Rock," were so bad that even Al Capone knew better than to mess with them.
