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31 juli 2006
Open Letter to the Mayor Regarding the Proposed Income Tax
[from Taproom owner Brian Brickley]
The truth is that if these are the only choices then the income tax is still
the wrong choice. I am an Ypsi business owner, real estate broker and have
lived in or owned property in Ypsi since 1976. When I talk to people in the
surrounding areas and tell them that Ypsi has the highest property tax rate
in the county the reaction is "Why"!?!
My answer is "Beats me"?!
Then I say, but wait it's going to get worse because now they want to impose
a city income tax. The reaction goes from comical to utter disbelief.
Why would I start a business in Ypsi when the taxes put me at a competitive
disadvantage even before I open the doors? I would be at a disadvantage with
hiring, fixed cost of real estate, and most important the impression that
the City is anti-business.
Now why would I buy a home in Ypsi when the property tax rate is the highest
in the county and I have to pay a city income tax? Do you realize that the
difference in taxes for a $300,000 home in the City vs. a $300,000 home in
the township is $2,700 per year? Now add $500. for the income tax and I can
move to the township and save $266. PER MONTH thank you very much.
Ms. Farmer you stopped by my restaurant 2 years ago and I explained the
successful program that Fargo North Dakota has used to revitalize downtown
and RAISE their tax base. You dismissed the idea without any consideration
at all saying that I should research the idea and take to the city manager.
You said that any temporary tax breaks would not work because the city
couldn't afford it. I tried to explain that it's not a tax break but a
temporary delay in the tax increase that would occur when properties are
improved and thus increase in taxable value. You were not interested in the
program at all.
It kind of reminds me of when the median was put out on Michigan Avenue.
There was a big meeting to share the plan with local business owners. When
we were shown the site plan the business owners at the meeting all had the
same reaction. "Hey you can't block all the left turns downtown, no one will
be able to get to the parking lots!" The answer from the engineer hired by
the city and the city's representative was "well Mr. Brickley I 'm not sure
what you were told but this is already approved and construction starts in a
month"
Like my six year old says, OH GREAT!
I will say it again. My biggest request of local government is, if you can't
help me at least don't hurt me. The delays in road construction, water main
work and parking lots hurt us deeply. To the tune of $20-30K a couple of
summers ago. Yes it had to be done but the process was slow and poorly
managed. A city income tax will cause people to go elsewhere to live, to
work to shop.
An income tax will add yet one more straw to the camels back. And the camels
pretty tired. As Oliver Wendell Holmes once said, "Taxes are the price we
pay for civilization." Then if you follow this logic all we have to do is
tax everyone 100% and we will be 100% civilized!!
Brian Brickley
Posted by ypsidixit at 04:53 pm | Comments (53)
30 juli 2006
I Sing the Praises of Von's "Super"market
YPSIDIXIT and the AF went to Von's on Holmes Road today before heading to the Kempf House to mow the lawn before it rained. Von's is a 1960s supermarket out of time. Its carts are Pintos to the Michigan Ave. Krogers' SUVs. It is small and human-sized. Organic vegetables? You're out of luck. Camembert? Your cheese options are limited to the orange block or the package of wrapped slices. Still, Von's offers treasures unavailable elsewhere. Take the one-pound cans of sardines. Y. bought four. Take the 69-cent a pound chicken. Y. bought two family-sized packages. Von's is homely and slightly dingy. It's my favorite supermarket in Ypsi. Von's has soul, not to mention imitation gummi bears which the AF, a gummi bear connoisseur, disdained. Small and homely, Von's evokes a simpler, less complicated era. Our hardy pioneer forefathers would have shopped there. Shun the soul-deadening corporate complexity of the Michigan Ave. Kroger's and aim your handlebars towards the humble Von's.
Posted by ypsidixit at 05:21 pm | Comments (14)
29 juli 2006
Bike Trip to the Arb
Y. and her adventurous friend spent the morning biking to the Arb for a picnic. Through EMU, down the secret path, behind St. Joe's, over the new bridge, down the (whee!) big hill on "Old Dixboro Rd." to the park, then threading through the (walked) jogging strollers, Spandexed joggers, and transfixed bird-watchers to the cool shady Arb.
Y. noted with dismay that the Border to Border path in front of WCC, barely completed, is slated for destruction. Some giant construction project is going on there opposite the college, and a 400-yard section of the path is marked "REMOVE" in pink spray-paint. Some wag also pinkly spray-painted one flowerhead of the Queen Anne's Lace growing along the path there, which made both Y. and the AF start and nearly collide as we peered at it in passing. Why rip this path up? It was just built! What are bikers supposed to do? That section of the road is not really bike-friendly. Y. is frustrated that such a cool and expensive project as the B to B trail is now going to be ruined so soon after its construction, for no apparent reason.
Y. was secretly impressed by the AF's bike-stamina. Non-bikers I know regard a trip from Ypsi to AA as a feat; the AF pulled it off with nonchalance--and that's working with a conventional 10-speed, not a semi-recumbent long-distance touring bike like mine. In last week's trip to Parker Mill and today's jaunt to the Arb the AF has proven himself to be one of the few, the hardy, the elect--a true biker.
Posted by ypsidixit at 02:21 pm | Comments (6)
28 juli 2006
"Sustainability in Post-Apocalyptic Ypsilanti" Discussion Group Now Forming
FELLOW GARDENER LISA BASHERT has the coolest idea ever: the "Sustainability in Post-Apocalyptic Ypsi" Discussion Group! I was so excited by her great idea I asked her permission to post about it and get the ball rolling--here we go! This group will discuss methods and skills that would be useful in a post-apocalyptic Ypsi. These include but are not limited to edible plants, sources of local alternate energy, medicinal herbs, gardening, canning, and foraging, all set in the context of a post-apocalyptic Ypsilanti.
Group activities may include projects such as building a working water wheel in the river and measuring the amount of electricity generated, building a mini windmill from PVC pipe, field trips to harvest wild edibles, and visits to events like September's "Energy Fest." What's your idea? Like to join us? Let's hear your thoughts! Thanks to Lisa for this fantastic idea!
Posted by ypsidixit at 02:11 pm | Comments (41)
Friday Open Mike
BOY, a lot's been going on lately. Mayoral debates. Attentive exploration of Parker Mill Park and its boardwalks winding through sylvan beauty with the adventurous friend. New wifi in Cafe Luwak. New freezer in the Double Eagle Coney Island. OK, that last one isn't earth-shaking (though it was table-shaking!) So what's on your mind?
Posted by ypsidixit at 08:32 am | Comments (35)
27 juli 2006
Mayoral Debate Reveals Candidates' Characters
YPSIDIXIT ATTENDED tonight's mayoral debates. 250 people filled the seats in the McKenny ballroom. Khalid was there from the News and said a story about the debates would be in tomorrow's paper. The boildown (disclaimer: Y. supports Steve Pierce):
STEVE presented himself as an articulate, knowledgeable team-builder. His clear, forceful manner of speaking made his points organized and understandable. He had many numbers and examples at his fingertips to bolster his points. He came across as a thinker, one ready not only to listen but to actively build fruitful alliances in the community. Anti-income tax. Willing to reopen the chicken discussion.
LOIS presented herself as a passionate, inspiring idealist. She spoke of her faith in the people in the community and her own fiery belief in the community's worth and spirit. She spoke of putting up a sign in Water Street as a method of letting people know that things were under way. She mentioned the need for a downtown grocery. Anti-income tax. Willing to reopen the chicken discussion.
PAUL presented himself as a candidate whose vision for Ypsi extended into the future and up to Lansing. He spoke of his "20/20 Task Force," so named because it is a group designed to bring about solutions by the year 2020, and also because its mission is to see things with 20/20 vision. He spoke of the need to pressure the state to rectify its funding of Ypsi. Pro-income tax. Feathers seemed ruffled by the chicken issue.
Below are posted individual answers to the interminable string of questions. It was a good debate, very revealing of each candidate's nuances of character.
Questions and answers are paraphrased for brevity's sake.
WHY WOULD YOU BE THE BEST CHOICE FOR MAYOR?
L: I've lived here longer than the other candidates combined. Ypsi is at a point of renewal. [Uses the phrase "I understand..." repeatedly as a rhetorical device.]
P: I've served on the Housing Commission, friends of the Freighthouse, and have gone door to door for a chamber singers group. "I also think I would do a great job."
S: Teambuilding. Participated in DDA, Smartzone, Blue Ribbon committee, wants transparency in local government. Loud, prolonged applause and shouts follow his speech.
DO YOU SUPPORT AN INCOME TAX?
P: It's a bad but necessary solution to buy us enough time to pressure the state to cough up money.
S: Absolutely opposed. We can't wait for Lansing to solve our problem. Income tax would increase each resident's tax burden by 28-33%. Over half of our residents rent and wouldn't get the proposed property tax rollback to compensate for an income tax.
L: No. The retired will not pay the tax. We need to look for other means and aggressively seek new business.
HOW WOULD YOU SOLVE THE CITY'S FINANCIAL PROBLEMS AND AVOID RECEIVERSHIP?
S: Regionalization. There's a lot of redundancy in local, township, and county offices. We can combine those. We need to aggressively solicit new businesses and give them concrete benefits for locating here.
L: Regionalism. Come together with Ann Arbor and Ypsi Twp. "I have begun to formulate those relationships."
P: Regionalism is not gonna solve our problems. The savings are overstated. Keep pressuring the state to give us money.
IF ELECTED, WHAT WILL YOU DO TO MAKE THE WATER STREET PROJECT A SUCCESS?
L: Project a successful image. Put up a sign. The plans the new developer recently gave us are not necessarily the ones we'll follow. No high density. Might put in a grocery store or make other changes.
S: We have to be fiscally responsible. What started as a 3-5 million dollar project has now ballooned to 16 and now 22 million. Over 100 million of taxpayer money has been invested. We must recoup that. We must raise the bar of what we expect from Water Street. Originally they spoke of putting in $99,000 houses. From what I've heard from community members, what we need is something grander--2 and 3-bedroom houses. There's no shortage of entry level housing in Ypsi. We need to recoup our investment.
P: I'm forming a 2020 task force that will decide what we want Ypsi to accomplish by the year 2020. "We wanna do it with 20/20 vision." We need to go to Lansing.
25% OF YPSILANTIANS LIVE BENEATH THE POVERTY LINE. WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE 2 CORE ISSUES FACING THESE CITIZENS AND HOW WOULD YOU SOLVE THEM?
P: We need to solicit ideas from my 2020 task force. The housing commission role can be expanded to help people find secure housing. We need money from the state.
S: We're short of money. It's difficult to decide what to do with what little we have. We need to grow our community. It's been shrinking in the last 10-11 years. We need to attract businesses and jobs. I opposed the self-storage unit proposal on the South Side/gateway area because it wouldn't bring jobs. We need retail there.
L: Some call it the South Side; I prefer to call it the gateway area. Many poor people live in the gateway area, but many live elsewhere in Ypsi. We need creativity. We need to market what is unique about Ypsi. [Repeats "I believe..." phrase nine times as rhetorical device].
WHAT IN YOUR PAST EXPERIENCE QUALIFIES YOU TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS IN A RACIALLY DIVIDED CITY?
S: I love the diversity of my neighborhood. We have a bad problem with prostitution there. So neighbors decided to come together to address it. We united across race and class lines to come together to work on this problem. I think this sort of teamwork can be done city-wide.
L: "The fact that I'm black means I have lots of experience dealing with the racial divide." [Recaps school days as the only black girl in grade school]. "We are just as intelligent and just as capable as our fair-skinned brothers and sisters."
P: "I don't like the premise of this question." We are a pool, a melting pot. Working with the Housing Commission has given me valuable experience.
HOW WOULD YOU IMPROVE THE CITY'S WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH SURROUNDING TOWNSHIPS AND CITY GOVERNMENTS?
L: Relationship-building. I've already begun to build relationships with Ypsi Twp. It takes time.
P: My 2020 task force will work on that--"that's just a given."
S: Sharing resources for services such as firefighters. Investigating group buying programs. Investigating joint programs in renewable energy--wind, water power.
[At this point, the candidates began answering questions from the audience with short one-minute answers]
HOW WOULD YOU PRESERVE RECREATION AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION?
S: Regional solutions working with the AATA. Combining recreational resources with the twp.
L: I was the only one who said no to recreation being taken out of the budget. Citizens stepped up to save the pool, the freighthouse, Parkridge.
P: Put the income tax up to a vote.
DO YOU SUPPORT THE CHARTER AMENDMENT PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION?
S: Yes.
L: Yes.
P: Yes. We also need an income tax. I also support Michigan's civil rights initiative and race as a factor in university admissions.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE DDA?
L: Develop a vibrant downtown.
P: Business growth; it's done "great wonders for the streetscape." Residents need to decide whether we need a DDA.
S: Ypsi is unusual in having 2 DDAs, downtown and in Depot Town. Right after we got the second one, the state moved to prohibit any city from having more than one DDA--it's called the "Ypsilanti exclusion." We must stop downtown construction--the roads, parking lots--it's driving away business.
WHAT DOES BEING A DEMOCRAT MEAN TO YOU?
P: Standing up for people with lesser resources, such as with my work on the Housing Commission.
S: Getting jobs to people, affirmative action, environmental issues, gay rights, women's rights.
L: I've enjoyed being a Democrat. Some believe we don't have strong values, but as a Baptist, I know we do. I believe in the strong worth of the individual.
HOW SHOULD THE EMU PRESIDENT WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY?
L: I believe we need to develop a unique model. Ypsi could be unique in the whole country.
P: My 2020 task force will be a part of it.
S: I'd actively reach out to EMU and ask, "What can I do to help?" I have a long list of problems I want to help EMU with.
WHATTABOUT THEM CHICKENS?
S: The discussion was curtailed. Let's reopen the discussion.
L: The discussion was shut down. Let's keep talking about it.
P: A citizen's group should take over the issue--city staff time shouldn't be devoted to the issue.
HOW WOULD YOU ATTRACT BUSINESSES TO YPSILANTI?
L: Market Ypsi. I often say "we're the best-kept secret in Southeastern Michigan."
P: Make a shopping district.
S: We don't make it easy enough for businesses to start up. Most are small businesses that are undercapitalized. The city puts too many obstacles in their way. People cheered when Quizno's failed in Depot Town because it was a chain--this is wrong. The two African Americans who started it lost their business. This is wrong.
YPSILANTI YOUTH ARE AN UNDERUTILIZED RESOURCE. HOU WOULD YOU TAP THEIR POTENTIAL?
P: Incorporate them in the 2020 task force.
S: There's a group called "leadership Ypai" that's for youth. There's a power here that gets people involved. We must give youth a voice.
L: Have a youth council advising the city council.
WHAT'S BEEN YOUR BIGGEST MISTAKE?
S: Water Street. We should have scrutinized the project more closely.
L: Water Street. We were too credulous.
P: "How come they never ask you about your smallest mistake, only your biggest mistake?" [gives example that Y. failed to sufficiently note down]
SOME NONPROFITS HAVE SAID THEY FEEL UNWELCOME HERE. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF NONPROFITS?
L: As noted, there are many living below the poverty line. Nonprofits bring them employment, housing, and training.
P: It's true that they don't pay taxes and take land off the tax rolls. They give with one hand and take away with the other.
S: Nonprofits perform a vital function. I particularly favor Meals on Wheels, since I think I might need them someday. I've reached out to the head of the United Way recently to discuss how we can better work together.
[There was one last question but Y. had debate fatigue and wanted to snag one more treat from Terry's Bakery before scooting home, and also got in a conversation in back with M. So that's it!]
Posted by ypsidixit at 09:32 pm | Comments (95)
City Manager Decade on the Job
"This month marks the tenth year Ed Koryzno has been Ypsilanti's city manager. The national average for a city manager is four-to-six years."
Posted by ypsidixit at 12:39 pm
Pierce's Work Shows Commitment to Ypsilanti
THAT's the title of a letter published in yesterday's News. Text below.
"Since coming to Ypsilanti in 1993, we have spent countless hours restoring our historic home in Depot Town. We know that commitment to historic preservation equals commitment to our community. Through his extensive commitment to the restoration of historic buildings, mayoral candidate Steve Pierce has demonstrated his devotion to Ypsilanti and our citizens.
"Steve has taken on some of the toughest projects in Ypsilanti and transformed them from lonely shells to majestic, welcoming structures. He is responsible for freeing the Kresge building from the lease with Kmart that kept it empty for decades. He also restored the Glover House at the corner of Washington and Woodward with stunning results.
"Steve Pierce's contributions to historic preservation in Ypsilanti are living examples of the vision Steve has for our city to reach its potential. Combined with his common-sense plans for economic growth and the nurturing of relationships on all levels, Steve Pierce's understanding and respect for the past will be yet another asset in propelling Ypsilanti confidently and energetically into the future.
"Please join us in casting your vote for Steve Pierce in the Aug. 8 mayoral primary."
Barbara M. Zmich, Ypsilanti
Posted by ypsidixit at 09:20 am | Comments (31)
26 juli 2006
Let it rain, let it pour
Let it rain a whole lot more, cause
I got them deep river blues,
Let the rain drive right on
Let the waves sweep along, cause
I got them deep river blues.
My old gal's a good old pal,
And she looks like a water fowl, when
I get them deep river blues,
Ain't no one to cry for me,
And the fish all go out on a spree when
I get them deep river blues.
Give me back my old boat
I'm gonna sail if she'll float, cause
I got them deep river blues,
I'm goin' back to Mussel Shoals,
Times are better there I'm told, cause
I got them deep river blues.
Let it rain, let it pour
Let it rain a whole lot more, cause
I got them deep river blues,
Let the rain drive right on
Let the waves sweep along, cause
I got them deep river blues.
If my boat sinks with me
I'll go down, don't you see, cause
I got them deep river blues,
Now I'm gonna say good-bye
'N if I sink, just let me die, cause
I got them deep river blues.
Let it rain, let it pour
Let it rain a whole lot more, cause
I got them deep river blues,
Let the rain drive right on
Let the waves sweep along, cause
I got them deep river blues.
Posted by ypsidixit at 08:25 pm | Comments (8)
Lamprey Encounter
A TANK OF SEA LAMPREYS is on display at the Ann Arbor District Library. The aquarium contains three foot-long lampreys sucker-mouthed up against the glass. It's an educational display put on by an anti-lamprey group, and is interesting, in a repulsive sort of way. Y. learned that lampreys have a line of gill pores down the first third of each side of their sickly grey bodies. Y. watched one lamprey breathing about twice a second, with the holes opening and closing in a particularly icky way. Before you comfort yourself with the thought, "Well, they only go after fish"--not so. Long-distance swimmers in New York's Lake Champlain have sometimes emerged with a new friend (shudder).
Fun lamprey fact: Portuguese and Spanish diners prize the lamprey as a delicacy and pay up to $25 a pound. Pass my plate!
Posted by ypsidixit at 12:57 pm | Comments (4)
Seven Ideas for a Better Ypsilanti
YPSILANTI ANN ARBOR NEWS EDITOR CHRISTINE UTHOFF'S suggestions for magically reviving downtown Ypsilanti include horse and buggy rides between downtown and Depot Town piloted by a folksy yarn-spinnin' driver, the installation of boring historical plaques (yawn), and various complicated parking schemes in an area without a single bike rack. Story.
Posted by ypsidixit at 09:54 am | Comments (29)
25 juli 2006
Cafe Luwak Switches to Fair Trade, Organic Coffee
YPSIDIXIT applauds Cafe Luwak's decision to switch over to fair-trade, organic coffee. This ethical choice makes this appealing coffee-ice cream-sandwich shop all the more enticing to Y. They're running a special. You can get a free scoop of ice cream or a small espresso drink. Y. just wishes their hours were more conducive to my usual 8 a.m. trek through Depot Town. I sometimes end up buying myself, as a special treat, a coffee at the Mi-Hut before boarding the bus (how the Mi-Hut stays open and viable is a mystery to Y., given its limited hours). Y. understands Cafe Luwak's poor return from experimental early-morning hours, but regrets that it's not open during my usual morning roll through Depot Town.
Posted by ypsidixit at 09:55 pm | Comments (10)
Ypsilanti Campaign for Equality Letter Draws New Response
A KIND READER SENDS the following letter:
"Dear Steve and Lois,
Last Friday, July 21, we e-mailed former co-chairs of the dissolved
Ypsilanti Campaign for Equality Beth Bashert and Lisa Zuber, copied to
Paul Schreiber, the letter below. As you'll read, we were hoping that
in the interest of fairness they would send us the list of YCFE
supporters they used to send their letter of July 1, 2006, which we
believe misrepresented your past and/or current views and actions
regarding the Ypsilanti Human Rights Ordinance. Our intention was that
if you wished you could use that list to contact the supporters of the
defunct YCFE, just as the Schreiber campaign paid for the July 1
letter, which appeared under the YCFE letterhead.
Also copied below, you'll see that Beth Bashert responded almost
immediately, with the single word "No." We received no response from
Lisa Zuber or from Paul Schreiber.
As you know, we were not solicited by either of you to undertake this
effort. For the sake of full disclosure, please be advised that we are
Pierce supporters. But please also know we only made that decision
after receiving the"YCFE" letter, which for us tilted the scales far
away from the Schreiber candidacy.
Please feel free to use our names and/or anything contained in this
e-mail if when contacting voters about this issue. We are copying this
e-mail to ypsidixit.com and trustygetto.com so that as many Ypsilanti
residents as possible may hear in a timely manner of our
correspondence.
Best of luck to the both of you.
Sincerely,
Barbara Zmich
Celeste McClellan
From: Beth Bashert (e-address deleted)
Subject: Re: Schreiber endorsement letter
Date: July 21, 2006 3:07:03 PM EDT
To: Barbara Zmich/Celeste McClellan (e-address deleted)
Reply-To: Beth Bashert (e-address deleted)
No.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
-----Original Message-----
From: Barbara Zmich/Celeste McClellan (e-address deleted)
Date: Fri, 21 Jul 2006 14:50:09
To: Beth Bashert (e-address deleted), Lisa Zuber (e-address deleted)
Cc: Paul Schreiber (e-address deleted) ,Barbara Zmich/Celeste
McClellan (e-address deleted)
Subject: Schreiber endorsement letter
Dear Lisa and Beth,
We read with dismay and concern the extremely misleading letter you
sent out on July 1 to supporters of the now-defunct Ypsilanti Campaign
for Equality. In that letter, you use the letterhead of the now defunct
YCFE and your titles of that dissolved organization to endorse Paul
Schreiber for mayor of Ypsilanti. Among the most egregious omissions is
the fact that Lisa Zuber is co-chair of the Schreiber for Mayor
campaign.
Setting aside the politics involved, we feel that as the former
co-chairs of YCFE, you misused the organization's name, issuing your
endorsement without authorization by YCFE supporters.
The implications, misstatements and omissions in the letter are at
the least, in our opinion, unethical, and for us have cast a dark
shadow over both the Schreiber campaign and your own personal
credibility.
Since we were also contributors to the Ypsilanti Campaign for
Equality, we believe we are on an equal footing to you with regard to
the use of the information generated during the campaign. In the
interest of fairness we ask you to email us by the end of the day
Sunday, July 23, 2006 the list you used for that mailing so that we may
pass it on to both the Steve Pierce for Mayor campaign and the Lois
Richardson campaign. They both deserve the opportunity, if they wish
to do so, to point out to the supporters of the YCFE the omissions and
misstatements contained in your letter.
Sincerely,
Barbara Zmich
Celeste McClellan
Posted by ypsidixit at 07:01 pm | Comments (15)
A KIND READER ASKS, "Laura, how many glasses of wine at Haab's would it take to get a link
to River Thoughts on your blog?"
Posted by ypsidixit at 06:38 pm
YPSIDIXIT IS BACK! She apologizes to kind readers for her absence, caused by a keyboard meltdown coupled with an iron determination not to spend a dime on a new made-in-China one but to rig up something from a 10-year-old keyboard, built like a tank, and about a thousand adaptors currently tangled spaghettilike all over my desk. Sustainable keyboarding. That's what I'm all about. Anyways, much has happened and I've got a trillion emails to answer from kind readers and entries to make, so it's off to gmail and then entry-time. Y. came perilously close to getting a life during her keyboardless adventure, but is now safely back in blogdom.
Posted by ypsidixit at 06:32 pm
20 juli 2006
Steve Pierce Gets More Endorsements
MR. PIERCE has gained two new endorsements; from UAW Region 1A and the Huron Valley Central Labor Council AFL-CIO. From his press release:
"“The race for Mayor of Ypsilanti is about jobs and protecting our quality of life,” said Steve Pierce. “Ypsilanti’s future is dependent on new jobs and new residents moving to the community. The City Income Tax will discourage new investment in our community. It is a sledge hammer blow to the community reeling from the loss of major manufacturing jobs and businesses over the last 11 years.”
"These endorsements are added to a growing list of Unions and Union members that are all supporting and endorsing Steve Pierce to be the next Mayor of Ypsilanti. Unions that have previously announced their support include:
"Washtenaw County Skilled Building Trades Council
Ypsilanti Police Officers Association
Ypsilanti City Firefighters Local 401
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 623."
Posted by ypsidixit at 08:35 am | Comments (8)
19 juli 2006
Local Historian Offers Research Services
LOCAL HISTORIAN James Mann asks if Y. would post something about his services and Y. is glad to comply. He says:
"I will be very grateful if you can be so kind as to let the readers of your wonderful blog know that
can employ me to research the history of their home, building, or an event of interest to them, and write a history for them. I know where to find the information, and will provide a history of their home, including information on families who lived there. I charge a fee of $35 per hour, and am willing to work with clients." Reach James at manjam[at]provide.net.
Posted by ypsidixit at 02:02 pm | Comments (6)
ART FAIR FATIGUE? Already? Not to worry. Get your art fix over at at Ironic Sans, which has a gallery of lovely artworks used to complement a New York news radio station's website.
Of this particularly fetching work, Ironic Sans says, "It’s a classic struggle for every artist. How do you illustrate a news story about a man caught smuggling two rocks of crack cocaine in an ice cream dessert? Well, the artist at 1010 WINS found a creative way to solve that problem, using photos of crack cocaine and an ice cream sundae. By superimposing them both on a pile of powdered substance — representing both the popular drug and the sweet sugar used in making delicious desserts — he unifies the images thematically, while the black background represents the health problems implicit in too much of either substance."
Posted by ypsidixit at 12:34 pm | Comments (4)
17 juli 2006
BLEAK. That's the word for the best movie I've seen in over a year, which is "A Scanner Darkly."
Philip K. Dick's parable about drug use, based on his own experience, chronicles the slow downward spiral of a narc who's hooked on the highly addictive drug Substance D. This many-layered movie twists and turns as it explores the nature of identity, self-knowledge, and reality. Small spoilers below, in "continue reading."
The movie also has an undertow of grief. Some of the funniest scenes, in which a ragtag household of addicts are satirized, also reveal the burned-out pathos of their lives. One example is the now-famous bike scene. On the one hand, it's hilarious that the stoners think a bike with six gears on the front wheel and three on the back means it's a nine-speed bike. On the other hand, it's tragic that they actually no longer remember how gears work on a bike because their brains have been harmed by the drug.
Rory Cochrane plays a whacked-out addict with over-the-top perfection. The movie satirizes the tics, paranoia, and craziness of his character, but again, there's much sadness in this portrait of a burned-out shell of a man.
Woody Harrelson, in an outrageous mop of a wig, plays a belligerent child-man ex-surfer dude with equal skill. His character gets into frequent idiotic fights with the shifty, fast-talkin' Barris, whose drug-caused amorality comes to light in one scene in the kitchen.
The movie ends on a note of mingled pathos and infinitesimal hope. Y. was saddened by this movie. Just before the closing credits, Dick writes an open letter memorializing his friends who died from drug ODs. Grim flick. Highly recommended. Wikipedia article.
Posted by ypsidixit at 10:20 pm | Comments (4)
YPSIDIXIT and the adventurous friend tried out the Cross St. coney island last evening. It was dirt cheap *AND*--they put a whole squeezy-bottle full of ranch dressing on the table for my "Albanian Salad"! I felt as though I was back in old Albania as I submerged the lettuce, eggs, tomato, cheese, and olives in an ocean of dressing, as the more abstemious AF looked on in horror. Any joint that gives me dressing control is aces by me. I nearly emptied the ENTIRE BOTTLE OF DRESSING. Heck, life is short. Add dressing! The AF had pancakes, pronouncing them "OK."
Posted by ypsidixit at 09:31 am | Comments (9)
16 juli 2006
Bluegills at Matthaei
YPSIDIXIT and the adventurous friend spent the morning marveling at butterflies, snickering at dragonfly threesomes, and soaking up midsummer beauty at Matthaei. We'd last been here when snow covered the fields, twinkling in cold miniature diamonds on the dead dry weeds. Ypsidixit marked the passage of time, put a pretty yellow leaf in her ponytail for decoration, and felt humbled and grateful to be on the same pineconed path as the AF.
We walked to the artificial pond on the northern side of Matthaei, within earshot of the barking dogs of the Humane Society. Here we were mesmerized by a bluegill in the shallows. It monitored a hand-sized cleared gravel area among the water weeds. We speculated that this was its nest, and that it was protecting its eggs. It seemed hard to believe that a little bluegill could so energetically clean out an area so big relative to its small size. But Y. silently reflected that with love, all things are possible.
Y. and the AF chilled out on a bench overlooking the pond and had snacks. The AF chided Y. for bringing hot tea, despite the fact that drinking hot beverages on a hot day makes one cooler. Y. magisterially ignored his complaints and serenely drank her hot tea. As did the AF, in grudging recognition of my common sense.
Y. and the AF stood on the gravelly pondshore, watching a hand-sized painted turtle. The shy turtle didn't know what to make of us. He peeked out of the water, then swam 5 feet in to us, then peeked out again, then swam 5 more feet in to us. We stood still. Y. was squatted on her haunches, which was beginning to get uncomfortable, but I didn't move. It took a good 10 minutes for the shy turtle to get within a few feet of us. He took one last look at us, then turned and fled for his life, swimming at top speed away from the 2 people in Washtenaw County least likely to hurt him.
Y. reflected on the high yet worthwhile cost of purchasing trust, a purchase made in increments over time, as she and the equally extremely shy AF walked quietly through the woods to the parking lot.
Posted by ypsidixit at 10:45 pm | Comments (3)
A KIND READER sends a story that may be the kiss of death in passing a regional transportation millage for the AATA.
Posted by ypsidixit at 01:29 pm | Comments (8)
15 juli 2006
FRIENDLY REMINDER: You have till 5 p.m. on Sunday to submit a photo to the garden photo contest! Kind readers have sent Y. many lovely photos. Send yours, too! I'll post 'em all around 6 p.m. on Sunday, and then we'll start voting. Send your photo in! Tiny prize to the winner! Thanks!
Posted by ypsidixit at 10:45 pm
QUOTE OF THE DAY from Metafilter:
"From what I'm reading, it sounds like most Lebanese are decent people who just want to go about their day-to-day business and enjoy life, but somehow a militant religious minority has gotten control over the government and the armed forces, and now all the citizens are having to pay the price for that.
Thank goodness nothing like that could happen here.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 6:27 PM PST on July 14"
Posted by ypsidixit at 07:32 pm | Comments (2)
ONE OF YPSIDIXIT'S SPIES, on the early-morning EMU beat, reports that at 4:30 a.m. this morning the "coney joint" on Cross was "hoppin'". Ypsidixit loves coneys and wonders if it's worth a visit one of these days, or if it's more of a greasy student dive.
Posted by ypsidixit at 05:45 pm | Comments (12)
WHEN SOME WEENIE at last night's Rolling Sculpture show robbed a hot dog stand and fled, a pursuer managed to ketchup and passersby took 'im down with relish.
Posted by ypsidixit at 10:37 am | Comments (1)
14 juli 2006
Insightful Report on Wednesday's CHENA Mayoral Interviews
A KIND READER sends a link to local blogger Loose Tea's excellent report on Wednesday's mayoral interviews at the College Heights East Neighborhood Association meeting. Loose Tea analyzes Steve Pierce ("the progressive voice for change"), Lois Richardson ("the visionary optimist", and Paul Schreiber ("the defender of the status quo").
Posted by ypsidixit at 09:19 am | Comments (94)
Open Mike Friday
Take it away!
Posted by ypsidixit at 09:12 am | Comments (9)
13 juli 2006
19th-Century Lawn-Mowing
YPSIDIXIT and the adventurous friend mowed the Kempf House lawn today with the KH's period antique push mower. It was exhausting and fun.
I got there at 6:30 and started on the front lawn. A pale geek on a Segway came rolling by and caught my eye. He stopped to chat. I pointed out that his machine and mine were similar in construction but opposites chronologically. He laughed at this clever observation. I saw my chance and asked innocently, "Want to try it? It's fun!"
Taking a page from Tom Sawyer, I praised his work. "Look at how well you did--much better than me. I bet you can cut another row that well, too." He smiled shyly at Y., who was wearing a skin-tight tank top that left little to the imagination. "The hard part is getting those weeds by the edge, but judging by those other rows, I bet you can get those no problem." Mr. Segway huffed and puffed. "Look at how sloppy the other side of the yard is, where I mowed--I know you can clean that up in no time." Y. was just about to let him finish the front yard and go have a lemonade when he handed back the mower, clearly pooped. Rats. Oh well. We chatted a bit about the museum and he left, promising to visit when we're open.
He soon came back and introduced his girlfriend. It was mind-boggling to Y. that a Segway owner would have arm candy, but there she was, so I had a nice chat with her about the museum and she too promised to visit.
This was only the beginning of a whole evening full of friendly comments from passers-by. The push mower was a fantastic outreach tool! I pictured a sign hung on the front fence: "Mow a Yard the 19th-Century Way--Only 50 Cents a Row!" The adventurous friend later had a better idea as usual: "Only Real Men Can Push Reel Mowers--Can You?"
Y. mowed the whole yard once, and then the adventurous friend showed up and between us we mowed it two more times, raking up a giant pile of clippings in between mowings. I pulled all the weeds from the rosebeds. We took a couple of juice breaks. The adventurous friend was a stern taskmaster. "Are we done?" I asked brightly. "Keep raking," he answered darkly. By the time the lawn was up to his standards, you could golf on it. The filthy and exhausted Y. was nevertheless proud of his work ethic. Thanks to him, we persevered till it looked super nice.
It was a fun evening of chatting with passers-by, showing off, walking on cool grass in bare feet, and joking with the AF. Y. is lucky.
Posted by ypsidixit at 10:09 pm | Comments (21)
ANOTHER VICTORY for Ann Arbor's lactating contingent was recorded today when the Republican caucus meeting room at City Hall was converted to a room in which moms may pump breast milk during public meetings. Story.
Posted by ypsidixit at 12:17 pm | Comments (2)
Ypsilanti Mayoral Debate July 27
A KIND READER alerts Y. to the well-organized website set up to collect *your* questions (submit a question!) for the 3 mayoral candidates, in advance of the mayoral debate July 27, 7 p.m., at McKenny Union.
Posted by ypsidixit at 08:37 am | Comments (7)
12 juli 2006
Goodbye Lem
Lem is my truck. My 1986 Ford F-150. It's been sitting in my driveway forever, since I never use it. It's found a new home, and drove down my street, around the corner, and out of sight, today. Felt sad to see it go. But also liberated. Y. is now completely vehicle-free and glad of it. No more insurance, no more plates, no more repairs, no more pollution. Yay for self-propulsion and independence! Also yay for my 2 car-people who tirelessly and uncomplainingly ferry me all over God's green acre (that's you, B-man, and you, Listener: I am indebted to you).
A lot of memories rolled down the street tonight. Lem was my dad's truck. I used to go to the hardware store with him in it. But it was time to say goodbye. Goodbye, Lem.
Posted by ypsidixit at 08:03 pm | Comments (15)
AFTER A TRYING DAY, YPSIDIXIT got a smile upon returning home. She found the kindest of Presents just inside her fence! Y. adores presents and in fact requires a steady if modest supply of them. It's a flat present: the best kind. CDs, books, framed photos--all the best presents are flat. Its colors are those of the Dutch flag, another plus. Y. was so proud of this particular gift that she decided to display it in the front yard for passersby to admire, next to a similar item in charming bumblebee colors. Yay!
Posted by ypsidixit at 06:22 pm
2006 BULWER-LYTTON bad writing contest results.
"It was a day, like any other day, in that Linus got up, faced the sunrise, used his inhaler, applied that special cream between his toes, wrote a quick note and put it in a bottle, and wished he'd been stranded on the island with something other than 40 cases each of inhalers, decorative bottles, and special toe cream."
Posted by ypsidixit at 12:51 pm | Comments (3)
A BAD ACCIDENT just occurred at Catherine and Fifth, near the Farmer's Market. A car ran a red and plowed into an SUV. The SUV tried to swerve out of the way and flipped over. Its driver, suspended upside-down in her seat belt, managed to wriggle out--with no injuries. Her dog, in a carrier in the back, somehow escaped--also uninjured, and started running down the street until captured by some of the many passers-by who ran to the sound of the crash to help. The male driver of the car also was uninjured. Quite remarkable, given the serious damage done to both vehicles. A fire truck and an ambulance were there in minutes. Y. is glad everyone walked away from this one.
Posted by ypsidixit at 12:22 pm
PORTLAND ARTIST Michael Paulus recreates the skeletal systems of popular cartoon characters. Gallery.
In other art news, don't forget the Shadow Art Fair is this Saturday, from noon to 5 p.m. at the Corner Brewery. Metro Times story touching on both these art tidbits here.
Posted by ypsidixit at 08:29 am
11 juli 2006
Brian Robb for City Council
YPSIDIXIT spotted Brian Robb chatting on the porch of his immaculately-maintained historic home while biking home. Brian gave your humble scribe a hearty wave that communicated so much. Its confidence suggested that the able Mr. Robb would be equally at home chatting with mayors in the halls of power or plying the Arctic on a whaling vessel. Its friendliness implied that the gregarious Mr. Robb would listen carefully to constituents' concerns. Its unconscious grace communicated that the forthright Mr. Robb would seek transparency in local government. As his bright yellow signs pop up dandelionlike all over town, Ypsidixit salutes from the township's Ultima Thule this outstanding candidate for Ypsi's City Council!
Posted by ypsidixit at 08:11 pm | Comments (28)
Ypsisongs CD Release Party August 10
SONGS DEDICATED TO AND INSPIRED BY YPSILANTI appear on the new CD Ypsisongs from Cerebus Records. There's a CD release party at the Elbow Room August 10, featuring performances by The Rants, Scotty Karate, Fred Thomas of Saturday Looks Good To Me and Flashpapr, The Ups featuring Brandon Wiard, Charlie Slick, Emily Jane Powers, Vailcode, Dave Lawson of The Pop Project, Modernlull, Drunken Barn Dance and Coke Dick Motorcycle Awesome. Pick up a copy of Ypsisongs August 11 at Encore Records, School Kid's Records In Exile, or Underground Sounds. Ceberus Records: 260-0341. Ypsisongs Myspace page.
Posted by ypsidixit at 12:30 pm | Comments (3)
Kempf House Tagline
THE KEMPF HOUSE is having a little contest of sorts with its members to think of a new tagline. This is a short slogan that appears on the bottom of stationery. It should sum up the KH and be snappy and pithy. Something like, "A historic home in the heart of Ann Arbor" or "A gem of the past preserved for tomorrow." As you can see I'm not doing very well. It's harder than you think to think up something succinct yet descriptive. Y. has a little list of related terms, such as "19th century," "music," "keyboard," "1853," "song," "downtown," "urban," and is shuffling them around, a la "magnetic poetry" words, to no avail. Kind readers are invited to contribute their own ideas, which I'll submit, credited, to the KH if you wish.
Posted by ypsidixit at 08:30 am | Comments (8)
YPSILANTI RESIDENT NAZIH HASSAN is a plaintiff in a suit against the NSA's warrantless domestic spying program. Hassan says he fears he's been eavesdropped on, as proponents of the surveillance program claim that it's not "a drift net over Dearborn." Story.
Posted by ypsidixit at 08:15 am
10 juli 2006
YPSIDIXIT renewed her stolen driver's license today. I got to the Sec. of State at 8:30 a.m. but they weren't open till 9, so I took a leisurely bike-tour of Fountain Square Plaza, noting a heretofore undiscovered dialysis center, a Radio Shack going out of business and offering stuff at up to 80% off, and a nail center with weird arrays of hand mannequins. Once they opened, Y. was asked why she was there. I had with me a bulging bag of every possible official paper that said I was me. My mortgage. My marriage license. My divorce judgement. Insurance papers. Utility bills. A thousand and one weighty documents. Oh, and an old expired driver's license.
"That's all you need," said the clerk.
That's all I need? A tiny faded card licensing me to do what I never do, drive? That's more authoritative than the mortgage I saved for years to obtain and signed a trillion papers for, involving financial consultants, lending agencies, and a thousand other people? More authoritative than the state-sanctioned marriage license? Than the court's most solemn and formal divorce decree?
Guess so. Y. pondered the fact that the most authoritative single item proving her identity was a plastic card saying I'm cool to drive. When our very identities are proven on the basis of a car-related trinket, the magnitude of driving in this culture hits home.
Y. biked home as usual.
Posted by ypsidixit at 10:33 pm | Comments (1)
Meet Michigan's Coelacanth
YPSIDIXIT WAS INTRIGUED today to learn of a "living fossil" in Michigan: the bowfin. This weird fish can breathe air with its lunglike air sac and this ability to breathe air "straight" allows it live in brackish, deoxygenated water and to survive droughts by burrowing in the mud, a technique called aestivation. The bowfin is the only primitive fish to provide parental care for its young (though it's news to me that other fish care for their young at all). It is said to be a good sport fish; there are bowfin anglers. Dinosaurs, mammoths, archeopteryxes: the imperturbable bowfin has watched 'em all come and go. More on this cast-iron fish.
Posted by ypsidixit at 01:11 pm | Comments (10)
THE BIZARRE AND TRAGIC weekend arm amputation news story just got stranger. The lady is resting in St. Joe's, the guy isn't talking, and the arm is still missing. How can you not find a whole arm? What will they charge the guy with? Involuntary amputation? Story.
Posted by ypsidixit at 12:47 pm | Comments (2)
Steve Pierce Endorsed by Three Local Unions
A press release your humble scribe just received:
"The Steve Pierce for Mayor Campaign is pleased to announce that Steve Pierce has been endorsed by the three major employee unions at the City of Ypsilanti: Police, Fire, and Public Works and Staff. The unions to endorse Steve are:
Ypsilanti Police Officers Association
Ypsilanti City Firefighters Local 401
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 623
Steve Pierce is grateful for the trust and support from the unions and their members. “Like many in the union and throughout the community, I am opposed to the City Income Tax,” said Steve Pierce. “Ypsilanti’s success depends on bringing new jobs and residents to Ypsilanti and the City Income Tax will discourage new investment in our community.”
Steve Pierce went on to say, “This campaign is about jobs and providing core services that enhance our quality of life. The city has fire trucks that spend more time in the shop than on the road. We need to invest in the men and women who protect and serve our community instead of pouring more taxpayer money into risky and speculative land projects.”
These endorsements are added to a growing list of Unions and Union members that are supporting Steve Pierce to be the next Mayor of Ypsilanti, which includes the Washtenaw County Skilled Building Trades Council.
The Steve Pierce Campaign says they will be announcing several other Union endorsements in the next two weeks."
Posted by ypsidixit at 11:15 am | Comments (11)
09 juli 2006
CLEANING PRODUCTS come under scrutiny in a good, commen-sense article in today's News that underscores the need to avoid triclosan and anti-bacterials as cleaning-product ingredients.
Y. uses non-toxic Doc Bronner's for cleaning all surfaces and for diluting into dish soap. Vinegar gets used for countertops and, mixed with Murphy's Oil Soap, floor-cleaning. I shun all anti-bacterial soaps and as a result I'm sure there's plenty of bacteria in my house--which is as it should be. I think exposure to normal levels of filth helps strengthen the immune system, an opinion supported by the fact that Y. has not taken a sick day in eight years.
At any rate, Y. is sure kind readers also have non-toxic, easy tips for household cleaning and would be grateful to learn them.
Posted by ypsidixit at 01:47 pm | Comments (13)
08 juli 2006
A 62-YEAR-OLD British woman has become a new mom. As the child of older parents, Y. is all for this. For one, she's a child psychologist: not only will she be able to take good care of the child's psychological needs, she'll be able to provide adequate financial support. For two, Y. is weary of the double standard that awards old fathers the badge of virility but condemns old mothers for "selfishness." Nonsense. Putting aside the question of the wisdom of bringing yet another child into a grossly overpopulated world, Y. fully supports this woman's choice to become a mom. Why not? She's made arrangements for younger folks to be surrogate moms in case of disaster and in all has pursued this goal in a wholly responsible manner. Story.
Posted by ypsidixit at 01:22 pm | Comments (4)
The Ted Heusel Cult
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY, but is Ypsidixit outside, doing chores or fixing her bike brakes? Of course not. I'm glued to the WAAM radio show "The Appliance Doctor." You'd think a show about the minutia of washing machines would be dull, but it's one of those topics, like Michigan campaign finance protocol, that unexpectedly is strangely gripping.
Predictably, longtime local broadcaster Ted Heusel came on and rambled on about something or other. Mr. H. was given the key to Ann Arbor last Thursday by Mayor Hieftje, for no real reason other than for being on the radio for a million years. Every other broadcaster on WAAM, ranging from the ever-sycophantic Lucy Ann Lance to the Appliance Doctor treats Mr. H. with the reverence usually given to Catholic saints. Y. is a bit weary of the uncritical adulation, since, to her jaded ear, Mr. H. is not the world's most compelling broadcaster.
Yet, where will I be from 3-5 p.m. today? Why, right here, of course, glued to the Ted Heusel show as always. Sometimes the folks one disagrees with or finds irritating are the most interesting ones to listen to.
Posted by ypsidixit at 10:58 am | Comments (6)
YPSIDIXIT biked down to the Farmer's Market just now to see if her friend, local historian James Mann, were there.
He was not. Some delectable peaches and tart cherries were, however, which I bought as antiscorbutics for a long bike-journey tomorrow. Mr. Mann has not answered recent email, which is highly unusual for him. Neither his bike nor car were in evidence at his home last time I checked. Y. is puzzled and realizes it's a bit odd to post this info on a website, but would like to solve the mystery.
Posted by ypsidixit at 10:22 am | Comments (33)
07 juli 2006
Garden Photo Contest!
Clockwise from top left: my front garden, rudbeckia, purple coneflower, and blood lily
YPSIDIXIT is dying to know what you're growing in your garden! What hidden wonders are in gardens across town? Here's you're chance to show off your triumphs! Send a digital photo of your best effort (agricultural or floralogical) to ypsidixit@gmail.com by 5 p.m. Sunday, July 16. I'll post them all on Sunday night. Then, all kind readers (whether you submitted a photo or not) can vote for their favorite! I will mail a small and charming garden-related prize to the winner!
Y. is up against some stiff competition, and might enter a photo of her killer rudbeckia (pictured). These crimson-dusted beauties are as big as my hand! My purple coneflowers (pictured) are another possibility, or maybe some of the blooming native plants in the backyard. Fire up your cameras! Let the best plant win!
Posted by ypsidixit at 06:56 pm | Comments (10)
Open Letter to the Ypsi Community
n.b.: I bumped this post up in the blog-queue due to its popularity. --Ed.
A KIND READER sends this letter in support of Ypsi mayoral candidate Steve Pierce:
Dear Members of the Ypsilanti Community:
As a strong supporter of the Ypsilanti Campaign for Equality, I was dismayed by a mailing issued by two of the organization's co-chairs that endorsed one mayoral candidate and spread misleading information about another.
Steve Pierce was and is a strong supporter of the YCFE. In fact, the YCFE's web presence was due to his generous donation of Internet hosting. He also proudly displayed a lawn sign and was openly supportive of our cause.
I am also concerned that the endorsement did not involve any attempt to poll supporters of the YCFE or speak with the candidates prior to issuing it. It was poor form for one of the co-chairs to issue the endorsement while failing to mention that she is closely connected with the endorsee's campaign committee, a key fact that should have been disclosed.
The YCFE has been a powerful force in Ypsilanti as a defender of civil rights and as an organization that has brought our community together, making it stronger. Its strength and credibility flow from the generosity and hard work displayed by its supporters and contributors. I object to its co-chairs' use of the organization's name, its letterhead, and its goodwill as a soapbox to express their own personal political opinions. I think supporters of the YCFE deserve better, as do the citizens of Ypsilanti.
Our city faces tough fiscal times. This election is an outstanding opportunity to achieve a truly progressive change in city leadership. I urge supporters of the YCFE to learn more about Steve Pierce, about his actual and real support of our cause, and to consider his candidacy for the mayoral race based upon the facts and his record.
Posted by ypsidixit at 06:20 pm | Comments (72)
YPSIDIXIT was approved for Google ads, so she's giving 'em a whirl. Proceeds, if any, will be used to support my ISP and Moveable Type thingie. I'm not allowed to click my own ads, which is kinda like having a cookie on the table that you're forbidden to eat. The ads are targeted to my "unique content," so I was also curious to see what ads would be generated by this-here unique content. Anyways. Oh, and I'm also now forbidden from having "adult content" on the site, so there go all the secular humanism discussions. Phooey.
Posted by ypsidixit at 12:55 pm | Comments (16)
Open Mike Friday
Take it away!
Posted by ypsidixit at 09:49 am | Comments (14)
06 juli 2006
Antipodean Hotdish Report
MY TANTE ERICA in Australia has taken the epochal step of fixing Hotdish thanks to the guidance of kind readers and hereby submits this report: (below).
Hello Laura, I must apologise for the flurry of emails recently but I did think you would be interested in an antipodean Hotdish report. Well, as you know Tuesday was the day. Went out and tried to buy potato gems (which most of my friends had heard of but none had seen recently). Couldn't find any, so ended up buying a similar product called 'Pommes'. (this is quite funny, as rather than Classy-French or whatever was intended 'Poms' is widely used as either an endearment or derogatory term for British people, especially the English. I digress) The Pommes were mashed potato balls, size of a big marble. They are made of potato and another 16 ingredients plus extra's. A good start!. Also decided not to spoil the hotdish with fresh beans from the garden but followed advice and bought some tinned beans (they are half-dead already).Proceeded with cooking (and I must confess I adjusted the recipe just a bit as there are only two of us to enjoy it). Had to restrain the urge to throw in a handful of dried mushies to complement the cream of mushroom soup. Into the oven and onto the table. Wow! It was delicious! - mind you, quite sloppy. Is it supposed to be or were the potato thingies supposed to soak up more of the moisture? We truly did enjoy it (a very suitable winter dish) and decided to declare the Fourth of July (never mind whatever you wish to celebrate) Hotdish Day in Diddillibah. Please pass on my thanks to all who contributed ideas, knowledge and expertise. It was a good bit of fun with a great meal at the end. Recipe for stewed wallaby tail anyone? (just joking!) Love, Erica
PS. Will think of a suitable australian recipe and let you know. Pav maybe? Lamingtons? Suitably stodgy Shepherd's pie? I'll give it some thought!
Posted by ypsidixit at 10:03 pm | Comments (4)
Water Street Presentation
A KIND READER WRITES: "Freed will be holding an open house-style event at City Hall on July 25th, 4-7pm; sort of a "meet your developer" event for Water Street." (more below).
They'll have conceptual plans and so forth, which I hear have cribbed liberally from the Biltmore charette, but also have at least some better ideas (e.g. commercial space along Michigan Ave). Real plans will be developed over the next several months as part of the PUD process; with hopes of having something ready for planning approval within 6 months."
Posted by ypsidixit at 06:52 pm | Comments (2)
STEPHEN HAWKING asks a depressing question on Yahoo Answers. It's still accepting answers--if you answer, it's possible Mr. Hawking himself might read it!
Posted by ypsidixit at 04:58 pm | Comments (2)
QUIZ YOURSELF on Biblical knowledge with this well-researched quiz from the Freedom from Religion Foundation. Y. did miserably--but when you hit "submit," at any time, you can then read the fascinating answers.
Posted by ypsidixit at 01:02 pm | Comments (2)
Unhappy Median
CROSSING MICHIGAN AVE.? Careful! Don't touch the median!
Posted by ypsidixit at 11:54 am | Comments (27)
Ypsi Band Snootily Disdained
A KIND READER WRITES that the local band Mound will be playing this Saturday at TC's with a couple of Detroit area bands (Osmus and The Dins). The gentleman adds (below):
"Not sure if it's newsworthy, but we were just dis-invited from the Ann Arbor Art Fair. One of our friends bands booked us to play during one of their slots and they informed him today that we can't play it. Apparently hippies don't like rock music or something, at least that's what we've been told. I have the original email from the organizer to our friend saying we're "too heavy" and that she doesn't think we can "keep a crowd". Tell that to the 125+ that paid to see our CD release party."
The complete Art Fair performance schedule may be found here.
Posted by ypsidixit at 10:36 am | Comments (8)
A KIND REASDER WRITES: "I just discovered a fun little thing I thought I'd share with you. Did you know that if you add http://gabbly.com/ to the beginning of any Web site, it immediately creates a little chat room where you can chat about that particular site with other fans visiting it?
Try it: http://gabbly.com/www.ypsidixit.com/blog"
It works. What a strange and funny thing!
Posted by ypsidixit at 08:12 am | Comments (1)
03 juli 2006
Back Roads to Lansing
YPSIDIXIT and the adventurous friend went to Lansing to celebrate my sister's birthday through a landscape in transition, full of the abandoned, paint-peeling old and the manicured sterile new. We took back roads: route 36 west, 52 north, and 43 west.
The black eye sockets of glassless windows in weathered farmhouses nearly hidden by weeds and untrimmed brush whisked by in the window. Why did that family's story end, with the house unsold? Y. peered into an open door in a giant leaning red barn, glimpsing the sun-striped vastness within. The little girl in me wanted to go doze in the hayloft and dream in the fragrant and magical space of a big barn.
In contrast to the farmhouses that grew up from the soil and were wedded to it for their livelihood, we also passed beige subdivisions. These looked as though they'd been airlifted from outer space and positioned on Tru-Greened lawns. The houses bespoke to relation to the land whatsoever. Instead of farmhouses implying that the residents went outdoors every day to work the land, the beige houses suggested hermetic pods sealing in people who'd rather play a video game. This willful separation from the earth that sustains us and in its wild, weedy beauty nourishes our souls, seemed to bespeak soullessness.
At my sister's house, the adventurous friend was magnetized to some old amps in the basement playroom. He, my brother-in-law, and my sister's father-in-law turned them on and tuned the guitar and burst into excited chat about the details of the amps as my sister and I exchanged a glance and sidled into the laundry room for a confab.
We compared notes and concluded that the pricier the guitar equipment, the more prone the owners are to never actually play an entire song, opting instead for sporadic noodling interspersed with nerdily obsessive observations about the tiniest of guitar-related minutia. Nothing wrong with that. We nevertheless chuckled indulgently at the menfolks' semi-endearing foibles.
We glided home on the back roads, gabbing and looking at the clouds and checking out the adventurous friend's old middle and high school, our trail wearing one more groove in a shared record of friendship.
Posted by ypsidixit at 09:31 pm | Comments (9)
Fireworks
YPSIDIXIT and the adventurous friend went to the Hudson Mills foreworks. A long line of red taillights crept slowly into the park as dusk fell.
We parked and walked through the dark woods to the gathering-place. Here, a ring of concession stands blazed brightly in the darkness, as a band pumped out oldies. We retreated from the seething people and found a quiet spot be a tree.
The fireworks were splendid and nostalgic. One firework consisted of a cone-shaped rain of gold. The sparks persisted and didn't die out, so the effect was of a lengthening golden tassel. This lovely 'work seemed to Y. to be a visual representation of a good memory, something glowing brightly and richly in the brain against the dark canvas of everyday existence.
Once the fireworks ended in a crazed fusillade so loud it made one's chest vibrate like a drum, we returned to the people-place. Thick smoke covered the scene, in which tiny figures wandered, and faded. Y. was mesmerized by this landscape of loneliness.
Figuring that we might as well wait for the exit-torrent to subside, we people-watched from our secluded tree. A parade of people streamed by 400 yards away, lit dimly by the lights from the concession area. Far from this mainstream, in the darkness, we watched the masses toting wagons and chairs.
Back at the car, we decided to wait some more for the traffic jam to trickle off. This was the best part. Y. lay on the hood of the car, pointed out a Native American constellation (the Seven Sisters) and watched the stars. The adventurous friend pointed out a satellite. Y. saw a shooting star, the first of 6. More satellites crept across the sky.
These sky-lights didn't boom or bloom or explode in red, green, and blue. Yet we quietly watched them for a longer time than we'd watched the fireworks. Two tiny observers together in a dark field near a small town in a flyover state, looking up to and humbled by the Infinite.
Posted by ypsidixit at 11:33 am | Comments (7)
02 juli 2006
"SO WHEN YOU'RE trying to impress that chick by the pool, remember the reason you're celebrating today. The reason she's in a bikini and not a burka is because of what our Founding Fathers accomplished."
--Thayrone on the BCMS (why am I listening to this?)
Posted by ypsidixit at 08:10 pm | Comments (9)
Achieving the Impossible
YPSIDIXIT has transformed a Stygian laundry-pile into an oasis of neatness. Yes. The door to the "Bluebeard room" that I never, ever opened, not even for my closest family members, is now open wide. I ripped out the filthy, smelly carpet and pad, removed about a billion staples with pliers, swept up the mountain of dirt that had sifted through, and mopped it twice.
I spent ALL of yesterday sorting out the huge pile of papers, stray books, tools, laundry, and just plain old junk that littered every surface--including the floor. It's so nice now, a real office instead of the house's black hole. Augean stables? Pah. Child's play compared to this tour de force.
Posted by ypsidixit at 07:56 pm | Comments (2)
Puma Removal
THE GRAPEVINE SAYS that the two black pumas flanking the Natural History Museum will be removed at 9 a.m. on Monday, July 3. They will be used to make molds for new, bronze pumas. One wonders what they'll do with the old ones--whaddaya do with a gently used puma? Anyways, if you're in town with nothing better to do it should be interesting to watch the puma removal process.
Posted by ypsidixit at 11:13 am | Comments (8)
PETA Tries To Change Dictionary
YPSIDIXIT has mixed feelings about PETA. Yes, their animal-lab exposes have thrown light on horrible conditions for lab animals. On the other hand, they have monetarily supported people who commit arson and other crimes. But they've lost what remaining sympathy I had for them with their latest gambot--trying to pressure Merriam-Webster to change the entry for "circus" to include such terms as "forced to perform tricks under the constant threat of punishment." When PETA starts monkeying with the language for political ends, they lose my vote.
Besides, their choice of Merriam-Webster shows they know nothing about lexicography. If they knew better, they'd go after the real authority--the OED. Amateurs.
Posted by ypsidixit at 09:34 am | Comments (17)
01 juli 2006
The Bomber
YPSIDIXIT and her adventurous friend ate breakfast at the Bomber today. First time for me, though I've lived here since 2000. The place is atmospheric, with about 25 model planes hung from the ceiling and the walls covered in framed photos, hung-up uniforms, and framed newspaper clippings from WW II, Korea, and the Vietnam War.
Y. loves the idea of gravy for breakfast, and her Sunrise Biscuit, a butterflied biscuit layered with sausage patties and eggs and with a side of crispy hash browns, came generously smothered in it. It was perfectly cooked and good the way that only food made wholly on the premises, and not trucked in from Nebraska in a bag, can be. The waitress confirmed that the golden, almost fluffy hash browns were made from scratch from potatoes in the back, as was the rich, spicy gravy. The adventurous friend's salad-plate-size pancakes, 3/4 inches thick, were studded with juicy blueberries. The adventurous friend asserted, "I always judge a restaurant by the quality of its pancakes" and pronounced the Bombers' first-rate.
Y. plans to burn up the million calories ingested at the Bomber in the titanic project of destroying hte carpet in her long-neglected office today.
Y. could not finish the giant pool of food on her plate and later, Clover gave the food an enthusiastic two dewclaws up.
Posted by ypsidixit at 11:28 am | Comments (21)